THE South East will receive a £1.2billion investment in affordable housing in a three-year Government agency programme.

The Housing Corporation, the Government's national affordable homes agency, will invest a total of £8.4bn in affordable homes across England between 2008 and 2011, as part of the corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP).

Caroline Flint, housing minister, said the amount was more than ever before. She said: "We need more homes in every region to ensure first-time buyers and families have decent, affordable housing to buy or rent. This money will go towards doubling the amount of affordable homes being built over the next three years, and will increase the number of family-size and rural homes."

The corporation has already announced a £51m cash injection for new affordable housing in neighbouring Surrey, to build in excess of 1,200 homes to buy and rent, with the emphasis on high green and design standards.

Martin Nurse, group chief executive of Sentinel Housing Association in Basingstoke, said: "I am very pleased to see that the Housing Corporation is investing a significant level of affordable housing funding in this area, creating new homes to meet the substantial need for housing for rent and low-cost home ownership.

"These will be affordable homes built to a higher level of quality than ever before, helping to cut fuel bills for people who will live in them, as well as CO2 emissions, which is good news for the environment."