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West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has emphasised the region’s readiness to support the national push for new housing construction. As of the end of the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has £146m in unspent and unallocated funds across its four housing programmes.
While these funds are not currently designated for social housing, Mayor Parker has expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to unlock the £146m. This move would enable the West Midlands to deliver social housing and provide support to its most vulnerable residents.
In a letter to Rayner, Parker stated, “Officers have already been working closely with local authorities and housing associations across the West Midlands in preparations for taking on a devolved Affordable Homes Programme. As a result of those discussions, it’s clear that they’re ready to help us deliver more social rented homes. Currently, these funds are not focussed on delivering social homes, and given our shared agenda to build more, I would hope that you agree officials should explore unlocking this money so that we can deliver quickly for our community.”
It is estimated that around 2,000 housing units currently under development could be converted into social homes.
The need for affordable housing in the West Midlands is critical, with 20,000 residents living in substandard temporary accommodation and 64,000 households on the social housing waiting lists. Despite the efforts of the WMCA, which has helped build over 7,000 homes—26% of which are affordable—the region has yet to meet its housing targets and intervention rates.
Parker has pledged to build 20,000 new social homes by the end of the decade, addressing the region’s growing housing crisis.
