SYMCA agrees deal to advance housing growth
Homes England and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a strategic place partnership.
The national housing body describes SPPs as one of the ways by which it works with places to advance locally-led housing growth and regeneration.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard welcomed the deal, saying that across its boroughs, 2,000 affordable homes are needed.
Designed to support sub-regions with the most ambitious proposals for housing growth, the SPP is centred around a shared business plan for bringing those proposals forward.
In South Yorkshire, the SPP will be focused on delivering against three core objectives, the organisation said: developing a robust pipeline of investment-ready proposals, supporting growth and regeneration solutions around places, and increasing the affordable housing provision across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
An SPP was announced with West Yorkshire in May 2023, at UKREiiF.
Homes England chief executive Peter Denton said: “South Yorkshire’s leaders have an appetite for growth and a pipeline of ambitious, transformational housing projects.
“This SPP will help to realise the untapped potential of South Yorkshire, driving forward the delivery of high-quality, affordable housing growth and regeneration across the region.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Our homes are our foundation; the bricks and mortar that give us security, that bring families and communities together.
“Signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England today is an important signal of intent, a demonstration of our commitment to making sure everyone in South Yorkshire has a place to call home.
“That partnership offers us the chance to bring in more investment from both government and house builders, so we can build the homes we need. And that need is acute.
“Across SY we need around 2,000 affordable homes, as part of an ambition to build 5,000 more homes in total. We also need to build the right types of homes for those people growing older across our region.
“I’m grateful to Homes England for their partnership and their commitment to South Yorkshire.”
