Yorkshire housing association cheif challenges government on spending

The figures, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, show the DLUHC was unable to find projects for the £1.9 billion of funding budgeted for 2022-23.

The Guardian reported that this includes £255 million meant to fund new affordable homes and £245 million intended to support improvements to building safety following the Grenfell Tower fire.

The DLUHC, however, said that the money could still be used in future projects.

A DLUHC spokesperson told PA Media Group: “These are multi-year funding programmes that are being spent flexibly – meaning some money can be moved into future years depending on demand and the wider economic climate.”

The Government also said it remains committed to building 300,000 new homes a year, adding that just over 200,000 were finished in 2022.

If Government departments fail to spend money which has been budgeted for a specific year, they can then “reprofile” the spending into future years.

Addressing the Government having not used the money, MHA chief executive Lee Bloomfield said in his letter: “If this is indeed the case, it is a shame that neither you nor your officials chose to visit Bradford district before handing these resources back.

“I did write to you on 20 October 2021 extending an invitation for you to see at first hand the progress MHA is making in delivering high quality affordable homes and other services to diverse communities in Bradford and Keighley. Sadly, I did not receive a response.”

Mr Bloomfield also advised Mr Gove that MHA manages over 1,400 homes for more than 6,000 people, adding: “However, demand is huge. 3,359 people are currently on our waiting list for an MHA home.

"1,551 of these need a home of more than three bedrooms. As you might imagine, to read that Government resources to help us meet this demand have simply been handed back is more than a little disappointing from our perspective.”

In his letter, Mr Bloomfield stressed that, whilst he did not doubt the enormity of the task the Government faces in seeking to tackle the national housing crisis nor the Levelling Up Secretary’s “personal commitment to meeting this challenge, I do question how and why the limited funds available to you are not being used.”

He continued: “In the meantime, individuals and families – in Bradford and Keighley, as elsewhere – are being denied the opportunity to live in a high-quality affordable home for reasons neither they nor I can understand.”

The MHA chief executive added: “I again extend an invitation for you to visit one or more of our housing schemes and hope MHA can play a fuller role in helping you deliver more affordable properties to improve life prospects in Bradford district.”

The figures were uncovered by local government expert Jack Shaw.

The Yorkshire Post approached the DLUHC for comment.