Minister Healey Announces Another 5,000 Affordable Home Across The Country In 2010
Housing Minister John Healey today said Government funding for housebuilding has hit £2billion since June as he announced a further £278m for an extra 5,000 affordable homes across the country.
In an upbeat end of year report Mr Healey said that Government backed housebuilding was not only helping to tackle the shortage of affordable homes but also supporting the construction industry when it needed it most – it will protect and create new jobs including 2,800 new apprenticeships.
Money released through the Homes and Communities Agency since John Healey became Housing Minister in June was boosted by the extra £1.5bn funding for the Prime Minister’s Housing Pledge, which saw Government funds switched into the building of new homes.
The Minister also pledged that this housing boost will continue into the new year. He confirmed plans to give the green light to a second phase of the biggest council house building programme for two decades, approve more cash to get workers back on building sites of developments stalled by the recession and sign off further funding for housing associations to build more low cost homes for rent or sale.
Mr Healey also said that in the New Year he will announce the first Government land for new homes under the Public Land Initiative. This is a new deal for the construction industry where Government and public agencies provide the land, but they take out the upfront costs and risks involved in site purchase and preparation allowing partners to operate at lower overheads and profit margins in the region of six or seven per cent rather than the 15-20 per cent norm for traditional housebuilders.
Over £245 million of today’s funding for more affordable homes will go to Housing Associations in all regions of the country, creating or protecting jobs or apprenticeships. And, as part of the Government’s Backing Young Britain campaign, the Housing Minister has put in place contractual conditions which will mean that the multi billion pound Housing Pledge investment will create not just homes but 2,800 apprenticeships in the housing construction and related sectors.
Speaking to apprentices in Leeds last month Mr Healey saw for himself how the young builders were gaining a firm foundation in their career on a new build site. The Minister is determined to continue to provide opportunities for young people, strengthening their and the industry’s future.
Schemes receiving funding in November’s allocation under the National Affordable Housing Programme include;
- £12.5m will provide 97 affordable homes in Wapping Lane, Tower Hamlets. This is the first large development site in Wapping for over a decade.
- £641,663 will help provide better short term accommodation for women seeking refuge from domestic violence in Wigan.
- £2,495,000 will aid in the delivery of 46 new homes in Charlton Hayes, Filton, including retail, community space and a school to serve the new development and existing communities.
John Healey said:
“Today I am announcing £270million to build almost 5,000 new homes. This funding means that since June I have backed housebuilders who need to kickstart sites stalled by the recession, housing associations willing to build extra affordable homes and councils who want to build new council homes to the tune of over £2billion.
“This is what it means to use the power of Government investment to help the country through the recession by building the homes we need and creating the jobs to keep people in work. The Homes and Communities Agency has done a heroic job in making this happen.
“But I want every taxpayer’s pound to go further. That’s why I have said that if developers want a slice of Government cash then they must offer jobs for local workers and apprenticeship schemes. Last month I saw for myself how Government cash has got a stalled development in Leeds back on track and met two apprentices who now have a chance to learn the building trade on site.
“This isn’t a one off. Across the country workers are already back on mothballed sites, youngsters are getting a head start in their careers, councils are starting to build homes again and developers are getting much needed support during the recession. And crucially thousands of new homes, many for low cost rent or sale, are being built. But this is just the start and there is much more in the pipeline in the New Year.”
Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, said:
“I am pleased that the HCA has risen to Government’s challenge to allocate this funding to places where it is needed most and where it can have the biggest impact on people’s lives. Every house we fund helps to build a community – a decent place to live, jobs for construction workers and economic activity that benefits local businesses. Seen together the HCA’s housing programmes represent a massive boost to the house building industry and a significant investment in the creation of thriving communities.”
Total funding allocations under the Housing Pledge since June can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1423070.xls
National Affordable Housing Programme
- Over £1.5 billion has been allocated across the regions since June through the National Affordable Housing Programme.
- The breakdown of allocations for November can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1423073.xls
Kickstart
- 136 stalled projects have now been approved to get back on track through Round 1 Kickstart cash
- And over 260 projects are shortlisted for a second round of funding. The full shortlist can be seen at http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/kickstart-round-two.htm
- Examples of Round 1 Kickstart funding include;
- Priors Hall development in Corby is the biggest in the country to be helped by the Kickstart fund. The site will receive over £12 million to kickstart it back into action after the recession stalled work, building 388 brand new homes. The Kickstart scheme will be part of a 5,000 home development, which makes a key contribution to the planned growth of Corby which has already resulted in £40m private sector investment in the town centre, the construction of a new academy and railway station, and other amenities being improved and expanded in anticipation.
- The 281 home Yarn Street development in Leeds had lain at a standstill for over a year and a half and would likely have remained so without Government help. But thanks to almost £4 million Government cash to unlock the first phase, workers were back on the site less than five weeks after the money was allocated.
Local Authority New Build
- 217 schemes were approved in round one
- Over 80 local authorities have bid in round two and Mr Healey will announce the successful bidders in the New Year.
- Successful first wave projects from round one include:
- Eight family homes will be built on a derelict site in Nottingham’s Clifton estate. The Widecombe Lane site will boost local employment and give ten local apprentices on site training for their NVQ qualifications.
- 36 new homes will be built on Wood Street in Rotherham as the first stage of regeneration for the wider Dalton area.
- Ealing will build homes for 277 people, with a focus on larger family homes. Seven large family houses will also be built on Thorpe Close in Croydon, on a site which previously suffered from fly tipping and vandalism.
Topics: 2010, affordable, Britain, Economy, Governance, government, housing, local, UK
Print This Article in Plain Text
|
|
Latest Headlines
- Osama Bin Laden Dead?
- Florida To Share $1 Billion For Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts
- Texas Prays For Rain During Extreme Drought Conditions
- Governor Christie Takes Action To Reduce Diesel Emissions, Improve Air Quality
- Governor McDonnell Outlines Draft Transportation Improvement Program
- Alaska Energy Bill Passes Legislature
- Illinois State Building Receives ENERGY STAR Award
- Homeland Security Begins Using National Terrorism Advisory System
- U.S. Outlines New Health Insurance Options For Graduating College Students
- Electrolux Expands In North Carolina, To Create 200 Jobs In Charlotte
- Virginia Storm Victims To Receive Tax Extension
- U.S. Expands Broadband Investment For Rural Areas To Accelerate Job Creation
- U.S. To Invest $130 Million For Advanced Energy Research
- Michigan Passes “I’m Sorry” Bill
- Kentucky Sells Two State Aircraft To Save Taxpayer Dollars
