Over 6,000 new homes will be built on previously unused brownfield sites with the help of new funding provided to local councils
Almost 100 regeneration projects will receive a total of £60 million from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The funding is part of the second phase of the £180m Brownfield Land Release Fund. The money will be given directly to councils, accelerating the process of making the land available for construction.
The brownfield sites include abandoned car parks, industrial sites, and deteriorating town centre buildings. The government’s ambition is to revitalise communities by restoring these lands for productive use.
Using brownfield sites to provide much-needed housing
The government say they are prioritising brownfield sites as a key strategy in addressing the country’s housing needs, as outlined in its long-term housing plan.
“We know we need to build more homes, but this cannot come at the expense of concreting over our precious countryside,” said Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean.
“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 deliver the homes we need across the country,” she continued.
The north of England will be prioritised
£1.82m will go towards 146 build-to-rent homes in Benwell and Scotswood, in Newcastle. Hull will receive 99 new affordable rental homes on a disused school site, backed by a £980,000 government fund. In Sunderland, a dormant riverside industrial site will be redeveloped into 140 eco-friendly build-to-rent homes at Farringdon Row.
The announcement follows the success of the initial phase of Brownfield Land Release Fund 2, which saw the release of land for nearly 2,400 homes.
So far, the fund has supported 89 local authorities and over 160 projects and allocated nearly £100m to help councils free up land for around 8,600 homes.
The £1bn Brownfield, Infrastructure, and Land Fund aims to unlock up to 65,000 new homes across England. The fund is a key part of the government’s plan to deliver a million homes during this parliamentary term and is backed by a £10bn investment in housing supply interventions.
“This funding will unleash the much-needed redevelopment of brownfield sites: stimulating growth and helping local areas reach their full potential,” commented Cabinet Office Minister, Alex Burghart.
“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,” he concluded.
