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New homes and housing · England

Affordable Housing in Derbyshire

How is new affordable housing delivered in Derbyshire?

Affordable housing in Derbyshire means homes for rent or sale offered below market levels to people whose needs are not met by the open market, such as social and affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted market sale. Land to Homes plans affordable homes into the sites it brings forward and works with councils and housing associations, which set eligibility and allocate the homes.

Newly completed terrace of two-storey affordable homes with small front gardensDerbyshire

Register your interest

Tell us where you want to live and what you need. Free, no obligation.

Registering interest is not a housing application. Social and affordable homes are allocated by councils and housing providers through their own lists.

Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.

  • Free to registerNo fees, no deposit, no obligation
  • Hear firstIf homes are released near you
  • Affordable homesWith councils and housing associations
  • Clear informationTenure, specification and warranty
  • UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI

New homes around Derbyshire

Our Derbyshire coverage takes in 12 towns and cities, centred on Derby and including Staveley, Swadlincote and Ilkeston. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire. Our Great Barr head office in Birmingham is about 41 miles from the middle of Derbyshire.

Registrations for Derbyshire cover larger family homes, homes for shared ownership and homes for first-time buyers. In England, where Derbyshire sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

Registering for Derbyshire is free and you can ask us to remove your details at any time.

Our approach in Derbyshire

Eligibility set by others

Who can apply is set by the council, the housing provider and the scheme rules. We explain the process, but we do not decide eligibility or allocations.

Register interest

You can register interest with us, and we will point you to the council or provider responsible if affordable homes come forward on one of our sites.

Delivered through planning

Affordable homes are usually secured by a planning obligation, such as a Section 106 or Section 75 agreement, agreed with the council at planning stage.

Designed to fit in

We design affordable homes to sit alongside homes for sale and spread them through a scheme, so the tenures are hard to tell apart.

How the rules work in Derbyshire

Councils and housing associations around Derbyshire can bid for grant through Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which funds Social Rent, Affordable Rent at up to 80% of market rent, and shared ownership. Landlords of the rented homes must be registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. National policy also expects local plans to set a minimum Social Rent proportion for major development. Land to Homes is ready to discuss sites, partnership and delivery.

In England, affordable housing is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework and is usually secured through Section 106 agreements. Homes are transferred to registered providers regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. Grant funding is usually channelled through Homes England, or the Greater London Authority in London. Tenures include social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted market sale.

Key rules in Derbyshire
National planning policyNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance
Local planning documentLocal Plan
Who decides applicationsThe local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land transaction tax (paid by the buyer)Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingA land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry.
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Questions about Affordable Housing in Derbyshire

What is discounted market sale?

Discounted market sale homes are sold below market value to eligible buyers, with the discount secured by a planning obligation so that it usually passes on to future buyers too. They are used mainly in England. Eligibility and the size of the discount are set by the council's policy and the planning agreement, not by the developer.

What counts as affordable housing?

Affordable housing is housing for sale or rent for people whose needs are not met by the market, provided on terms set by planning policy. It typically includes social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted market sale. The exact definitions differ by nation: England's are in the National Planning Policy Framework, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own.

What is shared ownership?

Shared ownership lets you buy a share of a home, usually with a mortgage, and pay rent to the housing provider on the remaining share. You can normally buy further shares over time, which is known as staircasing. Schemes and rules differ by nation and by provider, so check the details and take independent legal and financial advice before committing.

How is affordable housing delivered on new developments?

Usually through planning. The council's development plan sets out how much affordable housing a scheme should provide, and the commitment is secured in a planning obligation. The developer builds the homes and transfers them to a registered provider at a price that reflects their affordable status, sometimes supported by public grant. The provider then lets or sells them.

Can I register for new homes in Derbyshire?

Yes. Registering for Derbyshire is free and does not commit you to anything. There are no homes available yet; if we bring homes forward in or near Derbyshire, we will contact you.

Read more: Affordable Housing · Guide: Section 106 and affordable housing: what landowners should know

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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