A new partnership is giving people on probation the chance to build affordable homes in Cheshire, aiming to ease the housing shortage and reduce reoffending.

The initiative, led by Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price and the award-winning Prisoners Building Homes programme, has now launched in the county.

A shortage of social housing is costing councils nearly £3 billion a year on temporary accommodation nationwide, whilst reoffending costs around £20 billion annually.

Key stakeholders - including housebuilders, local authorities, probation services and landowners - recently met at Lion Salt Works in Northwich to explore how the Cheshire model could tackle both challenges. 

At the workshop, Mr Price set out plans to identify sites within four weeks and deliver the first homes, with families moved in, by this time next year.

In a UK first, the programme is being expanded to include people on probation serving community orders, not just those in or leaving prison, offering job-ready individuals a route into employment and a chance to rebuild their lives.

"This partnership represents a powerful opportunity for Cheshire," said PCC Dan Price.

"By opening the door to people on probation who are ready to work, we're strengthening our communities, accelerating the delivery of affordable homes and giving individuals a real chance to rebuild their lives.

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"This is exactly the kind of innovation that makes Cheshire safer, fairer and more resilient for the future."

The programme aims to boost the construction workforce, support rehabilitation and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes by offering paid work from day one, alongside accredited training and a pathway into long-term employment.

With around 3,000 people under probation supervision in Cheshire and ongoing labour shortages in the construction sector, the initiative brings together industry and public partners to help meet national housebuilding targets.

Sophie Baker, director of the Prisoners Building Homes programme, said: "This initiative not only increases housing supply, but also creates employment opportunities, reduces reoffending and helps build stronger, more resilient communities.

"We are also pleased to pilot an extension of our existing support programme for people in custody and those post-release.

"This expanded offer will include individuals on probation subject to community orders, providing early intervention to help prevent escalation of offending and reduce the likelihood of custody."