Starter Homes Programme

The Starter Homes Programme gives people the chance to buy or rent their first home. These homes include:

• New-build, high-quality homes designed for first-time buyers
• Affordable vacant properties with support for renovation

The Government is investing in this ambitious nationwide programme. Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, the goal is to provide 15,000 Starter Home supports every year until 2030, while working on long-term solutions to make starter homes more affordable and sustainable.

This programme will bring all existing supports together under one umbrella, making them easier to access and more visible. By building on progress so far, it will increase supply and improve affordability, helping thousands more people start their housing journey.

To make delivery faster and more cost-effective, the State will:

• Introduce standardised designs and specifications for Starter Homes
• Use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) at a much larger scale
• Implement planning reforms to support compact, sustainable communities
• Deliver homes in mixed-tenure developments

Starter Homes will be designed to meet first-home needs and follow best practice guidelines like the Design Manual for Quality Housing and the LDA’s Apartment Typology Booklet.

Affordable Housing Achievements under Housing for All

• Help to Buy Scheme: 59,000 households supported since launch
• First Home Scheme: Nearly 8,400 homebuyers supported
• Local Authority Home Loan: 1,028 households assisted since 2022
• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: Over 14,900 applications received
• Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme: Over 1,950 homes delivered
• Cost Rental Homes: Around 4,500 homes delivered

What’s Next?

The Government is committed to delivering more good-quality, affordable Starter Homes quickly, supporting people starting their housing journey and improving affordability across the market.

A new communications campaign will make sure everyone knows about the range of supports and opportunities available.