An £18m deal to provide more affordable housing and help support industry is being announced today, as part of the Government’s programme of action to tackle current difficulties in the housing market.

The deal has been done through the Government’s National Clearing House with Bovis Homes, which enables house builders to sell their unsold stock to Housing Associations for use as affordable housing, either for rent or low cost home ownership. This is the largest deal so far agreed with a major house-builder through the Clearing House Programme.

The deal provides 379 affordable homes on sites across the country for families who would otherwise be on waiting lists, following the agreement between the Homes and Communities Agency, Bovis Homes, and a number of housing associations.

This means that 4,800 homes in total have now been brought into use as affordable housing for a total of £160 million, with more deals in the pipeline.

Margaret Beckett, housing minister, said: “We are determined to support house builders to weather the current difficult climate, and this deal will help industry while also providing more affordable homes for families on waiting lists. This is one part of a range of measures we are taking to help ensure stability and security for those affected by the downturn, and we will continue to look at what more we can do.”