Govt launches 100,000 new homes initiative
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2006 11:22
The new government initiative aims to kick-start the building of 100,000 new homes
A new initiative identifying 45 towns and cities across the country as special areas with high potential for economic growth was announced by the government today.
The 45 locations identified as "New Growth Points" will share £40 million of start-up funding to develop infrastructures, unlock new sites and assess the environmental impact of new housing.
The initiative is designed to help young people find housing in their home town as well as get more first-time buyers onto the property ladder and support the creation of thousands of new jobs.
Among the towns and cities with successful bids are Truro, Lincoln, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol, Swindon, Reading and Ipswich, Grantham, Thetford and Maidstone.
The bids include a low environmental impact residential development projects, as well as plans to redevelop sports grounds and cultural institutions.
Housing minister Yvette Cooper said: "If we don’t build more homes less than a third of today’s ten-year-olds will be able to afford a place of their own in twenty years time. Helping our towns and cities that want to grow can make substantial difference in delivering the new homes we need.
"This gives local areas the chance to provide more jobs and homes with higher design and environmental standards too."
The initiative is in response to widespread calls for house building in England to increase.
A recent report showed over the last 30 years house building rates have halved while demand for new homes has increased by a third.
For the full report (PDF format), which gives the number of new homes per proposal and the level of funding, see
www.communities.gov.uk
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