News from East Midlands Labour

Housing projects in the East Midlands short-listed for welcome cash boost

Housing projects in the East Midlands could soon be receiving a cash boost to help them get back on track and boost local employment after being short-listed to receive a share of £550 million as part of the Labour Government’s Kickstart Scheme.

In total 36 stalled housing projects, with over 1,900 homes, in the East Midlands could be set to benefit including Derby Road in Ripley, Halls Lane in Giltbrook, Monks Road in Lincoln and The Meadows in Sherwood. And with half of the short-listed homes set to be for affordable rent or sale, this will provide a welcome boost for first time buyers and prospective housing association tenants.

Phil Hope, Labour’s Regional Minister said following the announcement: “Labour knows that our construction industry has found it tough during these difficult economic times, but we are committed to doing all we can to help. This Kickstart scheme is there to do just that and I am delighted that some projects here in the East Midlands could soon be getting a boost to get back on track.

“And with certain conditions being imposed on the developers in return – such as half of the properties being made available for affordable housing and schemes for local employment and apprenticeships – it is not only the developer that benefits but local people could too.”

Making the announcement today, Labour’s Housing Minister, John Healey MP, said: “Today I am announcing a further 265 projects short-listed for a share of up to £550 million. This second round of Kickstart funding could build 22,400 homes, support 12,000 jobs, train as many as 1000 apprentices and build a further 11,000 affordable homes.

“We are using the power of Government investment to build homes and support jobs at a time when the house building industry needs it most.

“I’m making it a condition of getting this Government money that all builders offer recruitment of local people and apprenticeship schemes. This means opportunities for 1,000 extra apprentices. With this money we’re kickstarting stalled developments, supporting new jobs, training future generations of construction workers and building the quality homes we need.”

All the projects will now go through a rigorous final assessment by the Homes and Communities Agency to determine which will get the green light. As this funding is intended to support the house building industry when it needs it most Mr Healey has made it clear that one of the key factors will be the ability to complete the work by March 2012.

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