Councils are being allocated government funding to help with the unlocking of brownfield sites, to support the delivery of more than 6,000 new homes.
Nearly 100 regeneration projects will benefit from £60 million worth of government investment, as the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities commits the second phase of the Brownfield Land Release Fund. This funding will be given straight to local councils, giving them the ability to unlock land and begin housing projects on derelict car parks, industrial sites, and town centre buildings as quickly as possible.
This investment aligns with the government’s commitment to building more homes, whilst not utilising brownfield land first, preserving the countryside.
From today we are giving £60 million to 100 regeneration projects to help transform brownfield land into thriving neighbourhoods
— Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (@luhc) October 9, 2023
This will unlock more than 6,000 new homes and ensure we build the homes we need without concreting over the countryside:https://t.co/B1JpX1gfLd pic.twitter.com/3GtAU6VQ6T
Rachel Maclean, Minister for Housing and Planning, said:
“We know we need to build more homes, but this cannot come at the expense of concerting over our precious countryside.
“That is why we are doing all we can to make sure we’re making use of wasteland and unused brownfield land, so we can turn these eyesores into beautiful and thriving communities.
“This is all part of our long-term plan for housing – making sure we delvier the homes we need across the country.”
Three of the projects that will benefit from the funding will be in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Hull, with Newcastle benefitting from £1.82 million as the council looks to reliver build-to-rent homes. The Sunderland project will use a former riverside industrial site as the basis for 140 new low-carbon homes thanks to an allocation of £1.8 million for Sunderland Council. Hull City Council will use £980,000 of the government funding to delvier 99 new homes on the site of a derelict school. This will be part of the wider city centre regeneration, and the homes will be provided for affordable rent.
Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart added:
“This funding will unleash the much-needed redevelopment of brownfield sites: stimulating growth and helping local areas reach their full potential.
“It’s fantastic news for business, and even better news for local people who will now see new investment, job opportunities, and family homes in their communities.”
The first phase of the Brownfield Land Release Fund was successful, currently being utilised to support the delivery of 2,400 homes. The funding is being used by at least 89 local authorities, with this involving more than 160 projects and over £100 million in funding. This is alongside the £1 billion Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land Fund that will begin to support around 65,000 new homes in England.
Councillor Shaun Davies, Local Government Association Chair, also commented on the funding, saying:
“We are delighted to continue our work with DLUHC, supporting councils to access the Brownfield Land Release Fund.
“Councils have continued to embrace opportunities to bring brownfield sites in their ownership forward for housing, and this fund plays a key role in helping councils to provide the types of homes their communities really need.”
To hear more on Levelling Up, from leaders and key figures within the UK public sector, register for Public Sector Executive's Levelling Up virtual event here.
Image credit: iStock
