Liverpool City Region said it is set to receive £700 million to build new social and affordable housing as part of a major UK Government programme.

For the first time, Mayor Steve Rotheram, working with Homes England, will shape the direction of new affordable housing in the Liverpool City Region, setting out ambitious plans for the types of homes and sites prioritised for construction and how many suitable bids for grant funding could come forward in each area.

“The funding will turbocharge social housing plans by enabling providers to start bidding for projects, break ground sooner, and kickstart thousands of desperately needed new homes for local families,” said Liverpool City Region.

“The Combined Authority will also receive £13.8m to enable 555 new homes to be built in the Liverpool City Region, tearing down crumbling buildings and clearing old car parks and disused industrial land to create communities on derelict, brownfield sites.

“The funding builds on the City Region’s track record, with more than 4,000 homes already in the pipeline thanks to £60m previously invested in the Liverpool City Region.”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This marks the single biggest earmarked investment in housing our region has ever seen – and the largest pot of funding we’ve ever seen for social and affordable homes. It’s a massive vote of confidence from the government in our region’s ability to deliver.

“Since I was elected, we’ve built more than 32,000 homes, invested a further £60m developing brownfield sites, and retrofitted 10,000 houses. We’ve built up real momentum – but now we’re ready to turbocharge our housebuilding plans.

“This new funding will help us go even further towards our target of building 16,000 new social and affordable homes over the next decade – good quality homes that local people can be proud of while also helping us to tackle the homelessness crisis.

“We’ve got the vision, the skills, and an abundance of ambition to help the government hit its national targets – but, most importantly, this is about helping more local people and families into safe, secure, and affordable homes of their own. Homes where people can put down roots, build their futures, and get on the housing ladder.

“We’re ambitious, we’re excited, and we’re ready to get to work.”