Families trapped in temporary accommodation or stuck on housing waiting lists will be prioritised as the government announces the allocation of nearly £10 billion in funding to kickstart the building of thousands of new council, social and affordable homes.

The first wave of funding announced today will support the delivery of more than 70,000 homes across England. It will go to a mix of councils, housing associations and other providers that have secured long-term funding certainty to deliver homes at scale.

Alongside housing associations, councils have been awarded Strategic Partner status with Homes England to put them at the centre of the housebuilding drive. Around 60% of homes delivered through these partnerships are expected to be for social rent.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “No child should be raised in a hostel room and no family should wait 10 years for a front door of their own. I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home.

“Nearly £10 billion will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest.

“Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”

Secretary of State Angela Rayner said: “Families can’t be left raising children without a place to call home, and none of us should spend years waiting for somewhere safe and affordable to live.

“I know how important fixing this is – because I’ve been there. A safe and secure home was the foundation for a better life – I couldn’t have got to where I have today without it.

“That’s why the Prime Minister and I are doing everything we can to get councils building once again – it’s fundamental to turning the housing crisis around, helping families out of temporary accommodation and into a secure home.”

Over £2 billion of today’s funding is expected to be spent in mayoral areas outside of London. Over time, more funding is expected to flow directly to mayoral authorities as the programme develops, building on the government’s commitment to move power and decision-making out of Whitehall.

Today’s allocation is only the first stage of the 10-year programme with more than £16 billion still to be allocated outside London.

Amy Rees, Chief Executive Officer at Homes England, said: “Today’s announcement marks an important step in delivering the government’s £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. Through these strategic partnerships and continuous market engagement, alongside Homes England’s wider investment including through the National Housing Bank, we can help unlock thousands of much-needed homes across England.

“By working with councils, mayors, housing associations and local partners, we can support the return of council housebuilding at scale, increase the supply of social rent homes and create thriving places that people are proud to call home.

“Today’s package goes further by helping councils access more of the funding available to the programme and make full use of Right to Buy receipts – with £1.61 billion raised from sales alone in the last financial year – and other available funding streams.”