Smaller developers across the West Midlands are being urged to apply for millions of pounds in funding to help get new housing schemes underway.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is encouraging developers to take advantage of financial support designed to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes and help tackle the region’s housing crisis.
Around £57m has been secured alongside existing funding for the coming year to support projects across the region.
Funding to unlock difficult sites
The funding will help developers build homes on derelict industrial land and other vacant urban sites.
These sites are often left unused because developers face high costs when preparing previously used land for construction.
By helping to reduce those costs, the WMCA hopes to unlock housing schemes that would otherwise struggle to move forward.
The authority says the projects will not only increase the number of homes available to local people but will also support jobs and economic growth across the region.
Max Abbott, the WMCA’s head of development and delivery, said: “If you have a housing scheme of 10 homes or more but are struggling to make it work financially, then I would encourage you to get in touch and see if we can help make your vision a reality.
“There are thousands of vacant urban sites, many of them derelict eyesores, crying out for redevelopment at a time when we face an acute shortage of homes that are genuinely affordable for local people.
“This is an opportunity for private developers to secure the support they need to get spades in the ground and help tackle our region’s housing crisis, changing thousands of lives for the better.”
Building more affordable homes
Since 2018, the WMCA has awarded around £159m to private and public sector developers.
This funding has helped unlock more than 8,500 new homes, mostly on derelict industrial sites commonly known as brownfield land.
Since taking office in May 2024, WM Mayor Richard Parker has focused WMCA housing funding on building more affordable housing, particularly social rent homes, which are the most affordable type of property.
Across the West Midlands, there are currently 65,335 households on social housing waiting lists. At the same time, 7,450 households, including 14,976 children, are living in temporary accommodation.
Major investment for the next decade
The mayor’s push to deliver the biggest social housing programme seen in the region for decades has already secured government backing. Up to £1.7bn has been allocated for the region’s 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme starting this April.
The programme could see at least 10,000 affordable homes built across the West Midlands over the next decade.
In October 2025, the mayor also announced a £40m Social Housing Accelerator Fund designed to release additional money for social rent housing by cutting red tape around existing WMCA housing funds.
Support available for developers
The accelerator funding will be used to convert around 1,000 properties that are ready for occupation, under construction or soon to be built into social rent homes.
These will be delivered alongside more than 750 social rent homes that have already been unlocked since the mayor took office as part of his Homes for Everyone priority.
Funding is potentially available for developers with residential schemes of ten homes or more that are facing viability issues. Developers interested in the programme can find out more by contacting invest@wmca.org.uk .
