Government hands out £68million to help build thousand of homes

by · Mail Online

Councils will receive £68million to help build thousands of homes on disused brownfield sites, the Government has announced.

The money, spread around 54 local authorities, is expected to deliver 5,200 homes on sites such as former car parks and industrial land that can be difficult to build on.

Sir Keir Starmer, who has pledged to build 1.5million homes over the course of this Parliament, hailed the announcement on Tuesday as an example of the Government 'rolling up its sleeves and delivering the change the British people deserve'.

But the money is part of the second brownfield land release fund (BLRF2) initiated under Boris Johnson that has already awarded £95million to help councils build an expected 6,800 homes.

This third round of the BLRF2 had made up to £80million available, but only £68million has been awarded as some councils did not meet eligibility criteria.

Councils will receive £68million to help build thousands of homes on disused brownfield sites
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to build 1.5million homes over the course of this Parliament
Brownfield sites (stock image above) are areas of land which were previously developed but have become derelict

The Prime Minister said: 'I said this Government is on the side of the builders, not the blockers. And I meant it.

'This funding for councils will see disused sites and industrial wastelands transformed into thousands of new homes in places that people want to live and work.

'Our brownfield-first approach will not only ramp up housebuilding but also create more jobs, deliver much-needed infrastructure and boost economic growth across the country.'

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Projects funded by Tuesday's announcement include £2.9million for 220 homes on a vacant site in Manchester, £2.2million to build 80 homes on a former industrial site in Eastbourne and £1.7million to build more than 100 homes on brownfield land in central Weston-Super-Mare.

Labour previously faced criticism as they were accused of 'totally misleading' the public after it emerged that unspoilt green belt land could be flattened to meet its ambitious housebuilding targets of 1.5m new homes.

Ministers admitted some land in the official green belt land would have to be built on, but said this would only be so-called 'grey belt' areas.

However an analysis of the proposed national planning policy framework (NPPF) shows that councils will have to free up other land if they do not have enough unused brownfield and 'grey belt' sites.  

The £68m funding comes as Homes England has also announced £30million to help the Riverside Sunderland project looking to redevelop former industrial land just south of the Stadium of Light.

That project aims to build 1,000 homes and provide space for between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner is the Housing Secretary said last week the Government was working to 'speedily' pass fresh laws in order to 'fix' Britain's 'broken' rental market
However, an analysis of the proposed national planning policy framework (NPPF) shows that councils will have to free up other land if they do not have enough unused brownfield and 'grey belt' sites

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said: 'The Government is committed to a brownfield-first approach to housebuilding and we have already taken steps to prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land through our proposals for a 'brownfield passport'.

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'The funding announced today will support the delivery of thousands of new homes and boost economic growth by unlocking development on scores of abandoned, disused and neglected urban sites across the country.'

It comes after Sadiq Khan hailed plans to create 20,000 homes on undeveloped land in east London as a blueprint for the future of 'new towns' in Britain.

The Barking Riverside project, which has already seen more than 2,700 homes built, would occupy a 443-acre brownfield area that was previously the site of Barking power station. 

An outline planning application submitted to Barking and Dagenham council by the mayor of London and housing association L&Q aims to deliver housing, shops, schools and parks, potentially spawning a 50,000-strong community on the north bank of the River Thames 

More than £400 million has been invested in the project to date, with 2,700 homes created and permission granted to build up to 10,800. 

Is your council on the list?

  • Basildon Borough Council - £994,151
  • Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council - £310,000
  • Bracknell Forest Council - £2,200,000
  • Bristol City Council - £2,488,643
  • Bromsgrove District Council - £722,748
  • Cambridge City Council - £904,851
  • City Of Wolverhampton Council - £1,400,000
  • Crawley Borough Council - £3,853,935
  • Cumberland Council - £1,300,000
  • Darlington Borough Council - £470,030
  • Eastbourne Borough Council - £2,200,000
  • Essex County Council - £1,418,000
  • Exeter City Council - £860,500
  • Gloucester City Council - £688,484
  • Gravesham Borough Council - £1,628,757
  • Great Yarmouth Borough Council - £81,074
  • Halton Borough Council - £517,500
  • Isle of Wight Council - £153,410
  • Kingston upon Hull City Council - £1,435,318
  • Kirklees Council - £1,253,031
  • Lancaster City Council - £73,440
  • Lewes District Council - £630,000
  • Liverpool City Council - £305,000
  • London Borough of Barking & Dagenham - £1,286,899
  • London Borough of Barnet - £1,276,367
  • London Borough of Camden - £3,261,639
  • London Borough of Croydon - £1,258,800
  • London Borough of Hackney - £855,680
  • London Borough of Haringey - £2,747,057
  • London Borough of Newham - £1,720,974
  • Maidstone Borough Council - £1,898,520
  • Manchester City Council - £4,123,108
  • Medway Council - £643,449
  • Mid Suffolk District Council - £135,000
  • Newcastle upon Tyne City Council - £2,402,550
  • North Somerset Council - £1,703,551
  • Peterborough City Council - £100,000
  • Plymouth City Council - £540,000
  • Salford City Council - £1,615,000
  • Sheffield City Council - £690,000
  • Southend-on-Sea City Council - £467,000
  • St Helens Council - £1,019,640
  • Stoke-on-Trent City Council - £2,217,232
  • Stroud District Council - £118,993
  • Sunderland City Council - £4,033,259
  • Surrey Heath Borough Council - £1,480,300
  • Tandridge District Council - £250,159
  • Thurrock Council - £734,370
  • Wakefield Metropolitan District Council - £1,030,000
  • Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council - £243,500
  • West Northamptonshire Council - £2,599,500
  • Wokingham Borough Council - £1,104,233
  • Worcestershire County Council - £1,093,234
  • Worthing Borough Council - £178,891