Magna Housing has been confirmed as a strategic partner in Homes England’s new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) 2026-2036, securing £250 million to support the delivery of 1,500 affordable homes.

The announcement includes Magna among a select group of 33 housing providers chosen nationally to help increase the supply of affordable homes across England over the next decade.

Homes England described the programme as part of a once-in-a-generation increase in social and affordable housing investment, with £39 billion being made available nationally to support the delivery of new homes.

Selina White, Chief Executive of Magna Housing, said:

“This is fantastic news for Magna and for the communities we serve across Dorset and Somerset.

“Being chosen as a strategic partner by Homes England reflects our strong track record of delivery and our commitment to investing in communities and creating opportunities for people to thrive.

“People across our region continue to face a shortage of homes they can truly afford. This funding will help us to play an even bigger role in delivering the high-quality, affordable homes local people need.

“We look forward to working closely with Homes England and our partners to help meet housing need across our region.”

The funding will support Magna’s ambitious plans to maximise its creation of much- needed affordable housing across Dorset and Somerset, including in rural communities. Before this announcement, Magna had already secured a £150m investment to deliver 1,500 new homes over the next five years.

Overall, Magna’s has set out its aim to contribute up to 3,000 new social and affordable homes in the South West over the next decade, as it seeks to play a greater part in helping more people live in quality homes they can afford in the places they want to live.

At its Royal Manor development on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, Magna recently handed over 41 new, sustainably built homes to renters and shared owners, many of whom have struggled to find homes in the local community for years. The homes – which include 27 at social rent – were delivered using modern methods of construction, with an energy performance certificate of A, thanks to a £4.6m grant from Homes England’s previous funding round and a £410,000 contribution from Dorset Council.