Shelter responds to government clarification on the Affordable Homes Programme

Polly Neate, chief executive at Shelter, said: "MHCLG have clarified that funding for the Affordable Homes Programme won’t be cut. But what we need is pace not confusion. The same money spent over the same period will do nothing to speed up getting the homes we need in light of this pandemic.

“The government can’t afford to plod along like before when it should be putting its foot to floor. As our research with Savills shows we need to build social homes now to avoid a housebuilding crash. The government needs to fast-track the £12 billion and spend it in two years not five if we are to save thousands of homes and jobs."