New Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis has just announced a new £200m fund for councils to bid for. This is all part of the Government's plans to increase house build across the country.

Councils' and developer partnerships can bid for a share of a fund to build homes on previously developed land.

The Government will provide financial assistance to authorities so that new housing zones providing thousands of new homes can be built relatively quickly. Brownfield land is proven to be far quicker when developed.

Upon publishing the bidding criteria Brandon Lewis said:  "Housing zones will help councils boost house building while making the best possible use of previously-developed land so the countryside is safeguarded."
 
The new areas that come under the bidding criteria, are all outside the capital and that the proposed sites must be able to accommodate 750 to 2,000 new homes. This is very much seen as initiative to work alongside the current bidding process for 20 new zones within London, this is for a share of a separate pot of £400m.

 

The Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said:  “We need to build more homes in this country, but it’s also vital we protect the countryside that people rightly treasure. That’s why the Government is offering councils a share of £200m to prioritise development on brownfield land.
 
“The new dedicated housing zones will transform disused and derelict land, and ensure the new homes are built quickly in a process that is more straightforward for councils and builders.”
 
Part of the bid from Councils and developer partnerships, is that they must be able to demonstrate they will be using the latest innovative building techniques, which includes off-site construction and custom-build,  to show that they are committed to deliver homes in the quickest time possible.

Lewis recently visited Walsall and wants those authorities bidding, to take up the building techniques used by the LoCal homes in the area. The LoCal homes site are using off-site construction techniques that meant that high quality inexpensive homes were,in some cases, put up within one day.

The Government has also asked that the housing zones sites', may come under their other backed initiatives, which are the Custom Build Serviced Plots Loan Fund and the Housing Revenue Account Borrowing Program.

The Government is committed to drastically increase and accelerate those areas best suited for housing development. There is another option for councils to consider for local development orders to help them to quickly grant planning permission. There is a separate £5m pot of funding available, which will help them to hold consultations on brownfield land that they identify as being suitable

 

Lewis has been very busy since his appointment as a week prior to the £200m fund's announcement, he had sanctioned a £3m fund to makes sure that 85 new housing sites can be started up where development has been given the go-ahead. The funding will help councils tackle outstanding planning applications, this will allow builders to start their developments on the promised potential of 25,000 new homes.