45,000 new homes to be funded by secretary of housing
Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, has committed £1.3 billion in a bid to create 45,000 new homes, 85,000 jobs, together with upgraded skills and infrastructure as the government boasts plans to aid the green economy recovery from Covid-19.
Over 300 projects in England are set to receive a portion of the £900 million Getting Building Fund.
This fund was announced in June by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in an attempt to help kickstart “shovel-ready” housing and infrastructure projects.
Economically speaking, according to the government this investment is set to reduce CO2 emissions across England by around 65 million kilograms.
The projects receiving the funding include:
- £23 million: Mayfield Park in Greater Manchester will receive funding for its phase one development of commercial space, forecasting 3,200 new jobs, whilst also attracting over a million tourists per annum.
- £14.88 million: Direct funding to the National Brownfield Land Institute, with the aim to generate a leader in sustainable construction.
- £12 million: To help fund a new high-speed railways in Thanet, Kent, with the idea of boosting the efficiency of local transport whilst also creating 800 new jobs.
- £12 million: To create a new high-tech food manufacturing campus in Derby for SmartParc. Consequently, work on this campus is set to commence in the first quarter of 2021.
Furthermore, £360 million has been allocated from the £400 million brownfield fund by the government for mayoral combined authority areas.
This allows for an additional 26,000 new homes to be built whilst preserving the greenfield sites.
In addition, £8 million will go towards the increased time-scale efficiency of delivering these new homes on brownfield sites, with mayoral combined authorities given the green light from the government to invite the former to bid for the remaining £40 million of the Brownfield Fund.
Jenrick said:
“As we get Britain building, we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today. This government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will not only give a much-needed boost to our economic recovery, it will help build the good quality, affordable homes the country needs.”
The Green Homes Grant scheme worth £2 billion states that the government is to fund up to two-thirds of home improvement costs, for example the installation of heating with low-carbon capabilities and insulation of more than 600,000 homes.
The scheme states that tradespeople must register for TrustMark accreditation to be eligible.
Vouchers covering 100 per cent of the costs of the improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000 will be made available to low-income households.
Energy secretary Alok Sharma stated that:
“Green home improvements will save people money on their energy bills, help to cut carbon emissions, and create new work for many thousands of builders, plumbers and other tradespeople. Our TrustMark scheme will guarantee that building work is completed to a high standard by accredited tradespeople, ensuring consumers are fully protected.”
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Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay
