News from Sheffield Labour

Paul Blomfield and Housing Minister urge Sheffield Council to bid for new money to build more social housing

Paul Blomfield, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Central, met Housing Minister John Healey MP to discuss the Government’s new £1.5 billion investment to enable councils to build more social housing.

Paul Blomfield took the Housing Minister to the Manor in Sheffield Central to show him a site where new social and affordable homes could be built. The land around Fretson Road was designated by the Council as a site for house building several years ago but the redevelopment is currently on hold.

Paul Blomfield is now urging Sheffield’s Lib Dem Council to make a bid for this money to build much needed social housing and kickstart house building on the Manor and in other areas with a high need for more housing.

Paul Blomfield said:

“I welcome the Labour Government’s commitment to build more homes and think it’s vital that Sheffield gets its fair share of the new £1.5billion housing fund.

“It’s vital that more homes are built because we have a real need for more social housing. I sincerely hope the Lib Dem Council shares my sense of urgency and I’m calling on them to act fast in applying for a share of Labour’s new housing fund to begin building social housing again in Sheffield.

“This site on the Manor has been earmarked for housing development but everything is currently on hold. If the Council bids for money to kickstart this development then contractors could be on site within a few months.”

Housing Minister and MP for Wentworth, John Healey, said:

“Councils haven’t built significant numbers of housing for a long time, but with this extra cash and an overhaul of council house funding I’m giving councils like Sheffield the green light to start building more homes in their area. Manor is exactly the type of area where we want to see new homes built.

“And we are putting our money where our mouth is to fund new Housing Association developments, get mothballed housing projects back on track, and free up public land for more affordable homes. The ball is now in Sheffield’s court to apply for money and get on with building more homes.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012