17.12.13
New Homes Bonus delivers 550,000 homes
Councils have received over £2bn for helping to deliver 550,000 new homes under the New Homes Bonus, housing minister Kris Hopkins has announced.
Additionally, 93,000 empty homes were brought back into use, and the total includes 160,000 affordable homes.
Hopkins said: “Top-down regional strategies and eco-towns failed hardworking families who aspired to own their own home, and built nothing but resentment.
“In stark contrast, councils have received over £2bn for their part in getting Britain building, and leading to housing construction reaching its highest levels for seven years.
“And they are free to spend the money any way they like to benefit their local communities – whether that’s supporting frontline services, providing new facilities or freezing Council Tax.”
Communities minister Stephen Williams said: “The government is doing everything possible to tackle the problem of empty homes and urban blight, and the New Homes Bonus is a shot in the arm for councils tackling the problem of abandoned homes and urban blight locally.
“The number of long term empty homes has already fallen by 93,000 and we are now going further, giving councils the incentive to bring people, shops and jobs back to once abandoned areas, and to provide extra affordable homes we so badly need.”
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