The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant will provide a direct incentive for councils to ensure that new homes are built where they are needed. It is an additional top up to mainstream funding and councils can choose how to spend it locally. This will also help the house building industry giving them greater certainty that suitable land will be available for development over future years, particularly as the housing market recovers from current economic challenges.
A lack of suitable development land is often cited as the reason for blockage in the delivery of new homes. Councils are now required to identify at least five years worth of suitable sites ready for housing and a further 10 years worth for future development. While many councils are delivering good quality homes quickly, some are failing to properly identify land for the homes their communities need. This new incentive will ensure that all councils are taking action now.
Caroline Flint also announced that the Government will bring forward proposals for an additional element to incentivise the delivery of affordable housing from 2010-11, the third year of the grant. She will also keep the allocations under review to ensure they continue to support a stronger long term housing market in every area of the country.
Details of the grants available in the South West are available by following the CLG link below:
