Recommendation 20

We heard concerns about the Government’s First Homes programme, especially its potential impact on the provision of other forms of affordable housing. First Homes has an important part to play in delivering homeownership, and we hope that the Government has learnt the lessons of the failure of the Starter Homes programme and the need for the 25% price reduction to remain in perpetuity. But the Government must also ensure that its First Homes programme does not reduce incentives for other types of affordable housing—in particular the delivery of shared ownership properties or social housing. We recommend that the Government lay out its timetable for when First Homes will become available. To reflect the needs for different types of affordable housing in different areas, local authorities should have discretion over what proportion of houses built under Section 106 agreements must be First Homes.