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New homes and housing · Hertfordshire

Affordable Housing in Stevenage

How is new affordable housing delivered in Stevenage?

Affordable housing in Stevenage 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.

New three-storey low-rise apartment block with balconies and a communal gardenStevenage · SG1

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 Stevenage

Stevenage (SG1) is one of the Hertfordshire towns we cover, about 19 miles north-east of Watford. Close by, our coverage also takes in Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City. Stevenage is part of England’s East of England region.

People registering interest around Stevenage can tell us whether they want larger family homes, two- and three-bedroom family homes or homes for first-time buyers. Because Stevenage is in England, land titles are registered with HM Land Registry and transfers attract Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

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

What we offer in Stevenage

Every main tenure explained

Social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership, discounted market sale and their equivalents in each nation, explained in plain terms with who each one is for.

Help for landowners

We explain how affordable housing requirements affect what a site is worth, so landowners understand an offer rather than just receiving one.

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.

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 Stevenage

Affordable homes in Stevenage are usually funded through a mix of Section 106 contributions from market schemes and grant from Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036, or from the Greater London Authority in London. Registered providers, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, own and manage most of them. Land to Homes can bring forward land and build homes for councils and housing associations, including homes for Social Rent.

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 Stevenage
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
Developer contributionsSection 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Questions about Affordable Housing in Stevenage

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 interest in an affordable home with Land to Homes?

Yes, but registering with us is not an application and does not affect eligibility. If a site we bring forward includes affordable homes, we will tell you which council or housing provider is responsible so you can apply through them. You should also register directly with your council and with housing associations in the area.

Does affordable housing reduce what my land is worth?

It usually affects value, because affordable homes are transferred to a provider for less than open market homes would sell for. The council's affordable housing policy, and other planning obligations, are among the costs a buyer allows for when valuing land. Our free site appraisal explains how these factors apply to your site.

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.

Are there new homes available in Stevenage now?

Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Stevenage at the moment. You can register your interest for Stevenage, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.

Read more: Affordable Housing · Guide: Renting a new-build home: tenancy rules in England, Wales, Scotland and NI

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.

CallRegister interest