Funding allocated to councils to develop brownfield land

A further £11m of investment under the Brownfield Land Release Fund has been allocated to councils to transform derelict sites across the county into new homes.

The investment will support 23 redevelopment schemes across 15 councils, seeing derelict buildings demolished and new roads and infrastructure built.

The announcement follows the allocation of £58m last month to 53 local councils to regenerate brownfield land and provide housing.

Projects receiving funding include the redevelopment of a former refuse destruction site in Stoke-on-Trent that will release land for the development of 118 new homes, 90% of which will be affordable housing including social rent homes for older people.

Hythe District Council will also receive £2m towards the site remediation costs of a former waste tip, with the regeneration expected to deliver 150 new homes, a new leisure centre and improved public spaces and parkland.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said: ‘Our brownfield-first approach is transforming underused sites into thriving communities where people want to live, work and visit. The investment we are announcing today will help people onto the property ladder, create jobs, deliver new infrastructure and provide a boost to local communities as we level up across the country.’

Other projects that have received funding today include:

• £1.5m to improve roads, infrastructure and utilizes for the Marina Village development and key employment sites in Barrow-in-Furness, releasing land for 315 new homes
• A major redevelopment of a derelict former cattle market site in Gloucester, which is set to deliver 180 new homes
• £1.1m to help bring forward a proposed redevelopment of a council-owned site in Chorley, demolishing existing buildings and addressing ground contamination to deliver a mixed use scheme incorporating residential, retail and leisure space

In related news, a project to transform the former Liskeard Cattle Market in Cornwall into office and workshop space for local businesses is underway.

The £5.1m regeneration scheme is expected to add £1.2m a year to the local economy and support around 33 jobs, created through a series of collaborations with residents and businesses who helped co-design the vision for the site.

Photo by Caspar Rae