Interim Chief Executive Paul Martin has approved the receipt of £740,000 in grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to develop a pattern book of standard house designs. This initiative aims to streamline the design process, reduce costs, and accelerate the delivery of new homes across local authorities.

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Grant Receipt

The council has accepted a £740,000 grant from the MHCLG to develop a pattern book of standard house designs. This project, led by Newham Council, will involve a collaborative effort with other local authorities and the MHCLG to create architectural templates for housing. The aim is to standardise building structures and technical elements, allowing local authorities to adapt the external appearance to suit their specific areas.

The pattern book is intended to be deliverable at scale, requiring input from the supply chain and warranty providers. Newham Council will procure architectural expertise to develop these designs, which will focus on building structure and technical elements. The grant will also fund viability assessments, cost modelling, and site assessments to ensure the accelerated delivery of these standard house designs.

A working group, comprising representatives from participating local authorities, the MHCLG, and sector stakeholders, will be formed to guide the development of the pattern book. Designs will be developed collaboratively and agreed upon by the working group and the MHCLG. Initially, the focus will be on larger sites to maximise housing supply benefits, with the potential for mid-rise and apartment block developments to be included. The MHCLG intends to make these designs open access for all local authorities to use, maximising standardisation benefits across the sector.

This initiative aligns with the council's Corporate Plan 2022-26, Building a Fairer Newham, which sets a target of providing at least 1,500 new homes by 2026. The pattern book is expected to speed up the design process, reduce pre-construction costs, and support the delivery of homes using off-site construction methods.

The grant funding is expected to be used over the financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MHCLG and Newham Council outlines the financial arrangements, with the grant covering all costs associated with Newham's role as the lead local authority. The council will be responsible for managing risks associated with the project and will need to ensure that any procured third parties make the designs open access. The legal implications of the grant agreement, including potential clawback of funding for breach of conditions, will be reviewed by the council's legal team.

The project also has implications for equality, with the council required to have due regard to its general equality duties under the Equality Act 2010. Procurement activities will need to comply with relevant regulations and council procedures.

The key deliverables include a pattern book with standard house designs, ready-to-use designs that consider viability and planning, and the identification of suitable pilot sites. Key milestones include the formation of the working group in April 2026, procurement of technical expertise in April 2026, and the development of the pattern book between April and September 2026. The project is expected to be completed by April 2027.

The council has the general power of competence under Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 and Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 to undertake this project. The alternative option of not receiving the grant was rejected, as it could lead to delays in securing funding and reverting to internal or alternative funding sources.

The decision was made by Interim Chief Executive Paul Martin on 26th March 2026 and notified to all Members on 27th March 2026. This decision is not subject to call-in and can be implemented from 27th March 2026.

• Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG): A government department responsible for housing, communities, and local government in England.
• Pattern Book: A collection of building designs that provide architectural templates, including size and layout, to facilitate repeatable construction.
• Off-site construction methods: Building components or entire buildings manufactured in a factory before being transported to the construction site for assembly.
• Localism Act 2011: Legislation that aims to give local communities more power and control over local services and development.
• Local Government Act 1972: Legislation that governs the structure and functions of local government in England and Wales.
• Equality Act 2010: Legislation that protects people from discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics, such as age, race, and disability.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): A document that outlines an agreement between two or more parties, but is not legally binding.
• Section 31 grants: Grants provided by central government to local authorities, often to fund specific initiatives or to compensate for changes in legislation.
• Call-in: A process by which a decision made by an officer or a committee can be reviewed by a scrutiny committee.

The full details of this decision can be found in the Public minutes 27th-Mar-2026 Officer Key Decision and the CE Decision Report MHCLG Pattern House Grant. The Memorandum of Understanding between the MHCLG and Newham Council is available as Appendix 1 - MoU Pattern Book.