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New homes and housing · England

Social Housing in Cambridgeshire

How are new social rent homes delivered in Cambridgeshire?

Social housing in Cambridgeshire is low-cost rented housing owned and let by councils and housing associations to households in housing need, with rents kept well below market levels. Land to Homes aims to plan and build social rent homes on the sites it brings forward, working with councils and housing associations. We do not allocate homes: allocations are made by councils and housing providers through their own lists.

New three-storey low-rise apartment block with balconies and a communal gardenCambridgeshire

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

Registering for homes in Cambridgeshire

Our Cambridgeshire coverage takes in 7 towns and cities, centred on Peterborough and including March, Wisbech and Cambridge. Neighbouring areas we also cover include Rutland, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

Registrations for Cambridgeshire cover larger family homes, accessible and adaptable homes and homes for affordable rent. In England, where Cambridgeshire sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

Tell us what you need in Cambridgeshire and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.

Why work with Land to Homes in Cambridgeshire

Homes for social landlords

We plan and build social rent homes for councils and housing associations to own, manage and let to households from their lists.

Part of mixed schemes

Social rent homes are often the affordable housing element of a larger development, secured through a planning obligation agreed with the council.

Clear signposting

If you need a home, we point you to your council's housing team or, in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

We do not allocate homes

Allocations are made by councils and housing providers through their own lists and policies. We cannot add anyone to a list or influence who is offered a home.

The English system, as it applies in Cambridgeshire

Affordable homes in Cambridgeshire 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, social rent homes are owned by councils and registered providers regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, with rents set under the Rent Standard. Councils allocate homes under their published allocation schemes, often through choice-based lettings. New social homes are usually secured through Section 106 agreements or funded with grant through Homes England, or the Greater London Authority in London.

Key rules in Cambridgeshire
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

Social Housing in Cambridgeshire: questions

What tenancy do social housing tenants get?

It depends on the nation and the landlord. Council and housing association tenants in England usually have secure or assured tenancies, Wales uses secure occupation contracts, Scotland uses the Scottish secure tenancy and Northern Ireland has its own secure tenancy arrangements. Some landlords start new tenants on an introductory or starter tenancy first.

Does building new social homes shorten waiting lists?

New social homes add to the supply that councils and housing associations can allocate, which helps, but waiting times depend on local demand, turnover of existing homes and allocation policies. We cannot say how any individual household would be affected. Your council's housing team can explain local waiting times and your position on the list.

Who owns and manages new social homes?

A council or a housing association, often called a registered provider in England and a registered social landlord in Wales and Scotland. The landlord sets the rent within the rules that apply, handles repairs and manages tenancies. A developer such as Land to Homes builds the homes and transfers them, but does not manage them as a social landlord.

Can social housing be built on land I own?

Yes. Land can be sold to a developer who includes social homes in the scheme, or offered for a scheme built entirely for a council or housing association. Planning policy often requires affordable homes on larger sites anyway. Our free site appraisal looks at whether your land suits new homes and which route makes sense.

Are there new homes available in Cambridgeshire now?

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

Read more: Social 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