Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding is available to help local authorities build additional capacity to provide more council housing.

We are giving local authorities the tools they need to build. We have abolished the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap, giving local authorities the freedom to borrow to build, in line with the Prudential Code. Local authorities can bid alongside housing associations for the £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme to build affordable homes. We are also providing a longer term rent deal for 5 years from 2020 to provide local authorities with a stable investment environment to deliver new homes and we have consulted on options for allowing local authorities more flexibility in the use of their Right to Buy receipts.

We are developing the planning capacity local authorities need to increase the delivery of new homes through the Planning Delivery Fund. Local authorities are able to draw from a wide range of sector led advice, good practice, and case study examples and we will also be working closely with local authorities to ensure they are able to make the most of the tools we have given them.