PWLB lending facility
Lending Arrangements
The current terms and conditions contained in Operational Circular 163 apply to PWLB lending.
HM Treasury have also issued guidance regarding PWLB lending which will apply to any loan arranged from 26th November 2020. This guidance was updated on 23 November 2023.
PWLB Lending Access Form 2024/25
Under current lending terms HM Treasury requires all major authorities wishing to access PWLB borrowing to have an up-to-date PWLB Lending Access form, submitted to DLUHC via the DELTA platform. The form captures a high-level version of an authority’s borrowing and capital expenditure plans. It is currently maintained by the PWLB Operations Team within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Following an internal review and feedback from the sector, the team have made some modifications to the return and published the live version for the next financial year 2024/25. This can be found in the DELTA portal.
Authorities must submit the DELTA form detailing their planned borrowing and capital expenditure for 2023/24 to 2025/26 prior to any application for borrowing. Authorities will be able to access and submit their DELTA form until 31 March 2025, allowing them to make amendments where necessary. The information submitted to DLUHC must reflect each authority’s most current plans. Authorities MUST update plans where forecasted borrowing levels move more than 10%.
Please note that for local authorities that wish to borrow at the new Housing Revenue Account concessionary rate, they will need to complete a new PWLB Lending Access form, available from 15th June, which has an additional section to capture information on HRA borrowing and capital spend. This new section of the form will only be visible to authorities with an HRA accounts. This new rate is solely intended for use in the HRA, not general housing expenditure. If you believe you should have access to the PWLB rate, but you cannot see the HRA section of the form, please contact the team.
Authorities should refer to the PWLB guidance for further information on completing the return and the team can be reached by email at PWLB@levellingup.gov.uk for any additional support.
All other PWLB related queries should be directed to the DMO via email at pwlb@dmo.gov.uk.
Information regarding concessionary rates is available on the Concessionary Rates page.
Applications for PWLB loans must be made by completing the PWLB electronic template and sending it to the DMO by email only. The electronic template was updated on 15 June 2023.
The template must be completed by an authorised dealer from the names previously notified to the DMO (BOU Team) and sent from an authorised email address. Non-compliant templates will be rejected.
Completed templates must be emailed to pwlb@dmo.gov.uk. Normal business hours will continue to apply (i.e. 9.30am to 4.15pm) and only correctly completed email applications received by the DMO between these hours will be accepted. The turnaround time for a PWLB loan is five working days after the loan application (T+5 settlement).
Furthermore, amendments to existing authorisations using the local authority authorisations form or direct debit changes can be emailed to the team using the same email address. We will confirm the status of your request within 72 hours.
Operational Arrangements
Standing instructions must be in place prior to any borrowing.
Major authorities - for example metropolitan, borough, county, city and combined authorities
New counterparties - please contact pwlb@dmo.gov.uk to discuss your requirements
Existing Major Authorities may amend their standing instructions by completing the Local Authority Authorisations form. Once completed, the form must be emailed to pwlb@dmo.gov.uk.
Minor Authorities - for example parish, town councils and community councils and drainage boards
Please refer to Parish Councils and Drainage Boards for further information on applying.
An estimate of repayment costs is available on the Estimated Repayment Costs page.
Please consult the FAQ document for any additional information.