Millions of pounds announced to build homes on Brownfield sites across South West
Exeter, Gloucester, Stroud, Plymouth, Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare will receive over £6.4 million for new homes to be built on brownfield land
The Prime Minister is welcoming over half a billion pounds of private investment, which'll go towards building thousands of homes
Councils across the country, and up and down the South West, are being handed millions of pounds from the Government to turn disused brownfield sites into housing.
In total, across our region, these local authorities are to receive more than £6.4 million.
Those are Exeter, Gloucester, Stroud, Plymouth, Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare, with the Government saying the cash will be used to help speed up housebuilding across the country, creating thousands of new homes, more jobs and boost the economy - amid their target of delivering 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.
In Weston Super Mare alone, the cash is being promised to help transform the town centre, allowing over 100 homes to be built on brownfield land, which will mostly be affordable housing.
Across the country, £68 million has been allocated to 54 councils through this newly-announced Brownfield Land Release Fund.
With the funding, councils will be able to cover the cost of decontamination, clearing disused buildings or improving infrastructure such as internet, water and power. As a result, land will be released to enable 5,200 homes to be built across the country.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “From the outset we promised to get this country building again to deliver 1.5 million homes over this parliament and help tackle the housing crisis we have inherited. That is the essence of fixing the foundations and driving growth.
“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.
“This government is rolling up its sleeves and delivering the change the British people deserve.”
Housing and Planning 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’.
"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”.
Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are delighted to continue our work with MHCLG, supporting councils to access the Brownfield Land Release Fund to remediate unviable council-owned brownfield land and bring it forwards for much needed homes.
“Delivered through the One Public Estate programme, BLRF is an important fund for English councils to unlock smaller sites and provides the flexibility for councils to deliver the types of homes their community needs at pace.”
The cash has been awarded to:
- Bristol City Council: nearly £2.5 million to deliver 171 new homes
- North Somerset Council: over £1.7 million to deliver 112 new homes
- Exeter City Council: over £860,000 to deliver 37 new homes
- Gloucester City Council: nearly £690,000 to deliver 45 new homes
- Plymouth City Council: £540,000 to deliver 31 new homes
- Stroud District Council: nearly £120,000 to deliver 7 new homes
Councillor Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Spatial Planning, Placemaking and the Economy at North Somerset Council, said: “Dolphin Square is an exciting project for us, supporting local communities through delivery of much needed affordable homes right in the centre of Weston-super-Mare, developed in line with our prioritisation of bringing forward brownfield sites.
“We’re particularly pleased to be able to demonstrate our commitment to mixed tenure development by offering a majority affordable homes, ensuring our communities are vibrant and diverse, and with a central location with good access to jobs, transport, education and other facilities.
“This fits into our placemaking vision for Weston, unlocking the benefit of local and regional growth whilst inviting investment to enable continued improvement to the town, crucial for the people who live and work here. By bringing people into the town centre to live, we can also increasing footfall for the local economy.
“Funding streams such as BLRF are critical if councils are to lead development and provide for their residents. At North Somerset Council we have a track record of strong project delivery, working with developers to get the most from council-owned sites and we look forward to building on this and realising the potential of the Dolphin Square”.
The three-year £180 million Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 was launched in July 2022 to allow local authorities in England to be able to build on blocked brownfield land.
Also earlier today, it was announced that tens of thousands of new homes will be built across Britain funded by over £550 million worth of impact investments.
These investments, whereby a fund creates beneficial social or environmental impact, has now grown to £76.8 billion in the UK in assets under management.