Given the reduced level of capital resources available under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, there is a shift away from the traditional local authority housing construction and acquisition programmes towards more flexible funding models based around the Social Housing Leasing Initiative, the Rental Accommodation Scheme and using more limited Exchequer funds to leverage private finance for the delivery of new housing supply.
With a view to making optimum use of the capital funding available under the housing programme over the 2012-14 period, I intend to announce details of a 3-year programme of new local authority housing construction and acquisition later this year. Local authorities were requested, in October 2011, to submit proposals for projects to be advanced in 2012 and the following two years. Authorities were advised that priority consideration will be given to projects that complete earlier phases of projects, provide small infill developments and/or can leverage additional housing units through a combination of capital and leasing monies. It is not possible at this stage to provide details of individual projects or the numbers of housing units to be delivered under the programme.