The Housing Corporation is responsible for investing grant in affordable housing, and protecting that investment through regulation and contract. Under new powers in the Housing Act 2004, the Corporation became able to make grants available to unregistered bodies, as well as to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).

In order to develop and test a new approach to the competitive process, a pilot programme of £200 million was established: New Partnerships in Affordable Housing (NPiAH). This programme and the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) 2006-08 were opened up to both RSLs and non-RSLs for the first time.

The Corporation commissioned Campbell Tickell to evaluate the new arrangements through NPiAH and NAHP.