£35m has been allocated from the Brownfield Land Release Fund towards transforming unused sites into new homes, forming the first phase of a two-year £180m rollout
Almost £35m of the £180m Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 has been allocated to 41 councils to help kickstart regeneration in towns and cities by developing derelict land, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced.
The funding will go towards transforming redundant industrial sites, disused car parks and derelict buildings into new homes.
The new fund forms part of the government’s plan to level up the country – ensuring local areas can achieve their full potential, delivering on the target of 30,000 new homes, while also protecting the country’s green spaces.
The fund aims to create affordable homes and new jobs in local areas
A total of 59 regeneration projects from Exeter to Sunderland will see over 2,200 homes – including over 800 affordable homes – built for local communities.
Increasing affordable housing will increase opportunities for more young people and families to get onto the housing ladder. Up to 7000 new jobs will also be created in housing and construction at and around the sites.
Local areas were invited to bid for a share of the first round of funding from the new scheme. The remaining £140m is to be allocated over the next two years – creating up to 17,600 new homes in total across the country, as well as support up to 54,000 jobs in the sector.
The first Brownfield Land Release Fund saw £77m help councils release over 160 brownfield sites for around 7,750 new homes across the country.
The latest beneficiaries of the Brownfield Land Release Fund include sites in Lancaster, Hull and Great Yarnmouth
The recent allocations will support the transformation of more previously developed, council-owned sites, by funding infrastructure and remediation work to release the land for new homes. Examples include:
- Lancaster – one of two successful projects will see over £1.6m will transform the city centre with 140 new homes, including new affordable homes, cultural venues, and facilities to the Canal Quarter regeneration area
- Hull – £175,000 will release land to deliver 10 new affordable homes for the local community, as part of the city’s regeneration drive
- Mid-Devon – a total of £280,000 will release land for two modular, affordable housing sites in Tiverton and Cullompton to build 14 quality, low-carbon homes for the community
- Great Yarmouth – £219,155 for one of two successful projects will boost the city centre by helping to transform old industrial buildings into 32 high-quality affordable homes, turning the area into a vibrant place for people to live
Helping councils unlock brownfield regeneration
Minister for housing Rt Hon Lucy Frazer said:
“We are helping local communities transform unwanted, urban eyesores into thriving places that people are proud to call home.
“Regeneration is at the heart of our levelling up mission and this new brownfield first fund will help communities across the country unlock disused, council-owned sites to build more of the right homes in the right places”
Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said:
“We are delighted to be a key partner in supporting the Government’s £180m Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2).
“Councils play a vital role in driving progress to provide more and better housing, and the awarding of this fund will ensure English councils unlock their brownfield land for new homes and deliver local housing priorities.
“With built-in support from the One Public Estate programme, councils can tackle complex and challenging brownfield sites to benefit their communities.”
