For the first time, the programme covers a full three year period. Publication of the prospectus follows the Housing Green Paper Building for the Future, which announced investment of at least £8bn in affordable housing for 2008-11.
The prospectus details the criteria organisations will need to meet when bidding for a share of the NAHP, both through the Partnering route as well as the specialist route. Organisations bidding via the Partnering route have already been short listed following an earlier expression of interest stage.
Corporation Chief Executive, Steve Douglas said:
"This Prospectus is the means by which we will ensure that the quality of homes we build continues to rise, as does the number of homes delivered for each pound of taxpayers' money we spend."
Expectations that bidders will reach higher quality standards are detailed both in this Prospectus and in the Corporation's Pre-Prospectus for the 2008-11 NAHP programme.
Specific criteria are set out to require bidders to achieve higher quality design, with the publication of the new Corporation Design Strategy and Standards; raise the bar on environmental standards to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes level 3; and grow the provision for people with particular needs by providing homes for vulnerable people, diverse communities and for rural as well as urban environments.
At the same time, to meet Government output targets, providers are asked to meet challenging efficiency targets. For the first time annual efficiency targets are set for each region, ensuring that the NAH P's competitive bid process delivers significant reductions better value for grant and more homes for the public money invested. Targets range from 4.5% to over 10%, depending on the Corporation's analysis of the scope for efficiency in each area.
All queries about the NAHP should be sent to enquiries.nahp@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk. A copy of the Prospectus is available on the Housing Corporation website
