News Maidstone Borough Council awarded £300,000 to facilitate council housebuilding programme

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has been awarded £300,000 from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

The money, which is the maximum amount available, will help MBC deliver its goal to build 1,000 council homes. These high-quality homes will give local people safe and secure places to live.

The grant will help towards developing technical and feasibility plans for more council homes. It will also support work to re-open the Housing Revenue Account, which is the corporate structure in which these new housing assets will ultimately be held.

MBC has already built 60 affordable homes as part of this programme. Eleven of these homes were completed this year. This includes the new Heather House development in Parkwood, which provides modern, energy-efficient homes and a new community space for residents.

In 2026/27, MBC will complete the building of 83 more homes for social rent. Land has also been purchased for 383 homes, and planning permission has already been granted for 306 of these plots. This demonstrates a strong pipeline of projects that will help us reach the target of 1,000 homes.

The funding will also enable the council to prepare for the next major Homes England funding round in early 2026, strengthening its position to bid for additional Social Housing Grant to complete the programme.

The programme is already making a difference. Families are moving out of temporary housing and off the waiting list. This means more people have a permanent home and can feel secure about their future.

Maidstone Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, Cllr Simon Wales said: “It is fantastic for Maidstone Borough Council to be at the cutting edge of a renaissance in council housebuilding, and this award of monies shows the confidence that MHCLG have in us to deliver on the nation’s broader housing ambitions.”

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