THE Government’s promise of huge new spending on new social housing nationally could fail to benefit Herefordshire as the county is not set up for such investment, an opposition leader in the county has claimed.

The £39 billion for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme will initially benefit ‘families stuck without a secure home’, the Government said, adding it will be up to both councils and housing associations to ‘expand access to genuinely affordable homes’.

“Funding like this could make a big difference to Herefordshire, which has a chronic shortage of social and affordable housing,” Liberal Democrat group leader on Herefordshire Council Terry James said.

“But it looks like funding will go to places that are ready to spend it. Sadly, Herefordshire isn’t in a position where we can start building social housing on the scale we need.”

Back in 2023 a motion put forward by the LibDems and backed by other councillors called for the county council to “directly deliver… safe, secure, affordable homes for local people”, given that the private sector was failing to do this.

“Since then, we’ve worked through the scrutiny system to recommend a housing development company,” Cllr James said – adding that with this, “the council would be ready to go when opportunities like this becomes available”.

“This approach has been rejected but the current administration don’t have an alternative,” he said.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson said it was important that the Government’s scheme supports rural areas like Herefordshire given the significant demand for affordable housing across the county and added: “We urge the Government to ensure that Herefordshire receives its fair share of this investment, particularly in light of a local government finance settlement that fell short of what we need to meet rising demand,” they said.