Bids Invited for £150m First Homes Early Delivery Pilot Programme

House builders in England can bid for funding as part of an initial pilot of a new government scheme offering discounted homes to first-time buyers.

The First Homes Early Delivery Pilot Programme has been established to help deliver 1,500 new homes in England by 2023.

Through the programme, funding is being made available to house builders offering plots that can be sold as ‘First Homes’ – a scheme that enables local first-time buyers and key workers to receive discounts of at least 30% against market value.

The Government hopes this pilot scheme will provide learning to Homes England to assist in the national rollout of the programme.

The programme will deliver funding from an overall £150 million package. Levels of support for individual applicants and projects have not been stipulated.

House builders of all sizes may apply. The regions of England covered by the pilot comprise the North West, South East, East Midlands, North East, East of England, Yorkshire & the Humber, South West and West Midlands.

Peter Freeman, Chair of Homes England said:

‘The Early Delivery Programme is a great opportunity for housebuilders, housing associations and the wider development sector to get to grips with First Homes. We look forward to working with partners to help aspiring homeowners realise their ambitions and own their own home.

‘Councils will also be able to prioritise the homes for keyworkers such as nurses and teachers who have been looking to get on the housing ladder while supporting their community throughout the pandemic.’

Expressions of Interest are invited by 13 September 2021 (12:00 BST).

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)