Green light given to 10,000 new homes on public sector land

The government has given the green light to plans to build 10,000 new homes on public sector land.

The new homes will be built as part of the next phase of the One Public Estate programme, which aims to free-up land owned by councils and other public sector organisations.

The programme is a joint initiative between the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Local Government Association. 

The latest round of the programme will see money and support given to more than 100 local public-sector partnerships across England, to bring forward proposals for a range of new projects on public-sector sites.

These include:

• £680,000 for projects in Waltham Forest, including proposals to bring forward the redevelopment of the 100-year-old Whipps Cross Hospital and sites in public and private ownership for housing development in the Forest Road Corridor.
• £505,000 for projects in Devon and Torbay, including the regeneration of land around St David’s station in Exeter.
• £405,000 for projects in Northamptonshire, including plans to release land around Kettering railway station for the development of new houses and station improvements.
• £410,000 for projects in Worcestershire, including delivering new housing and regeneration around Redditch station, as part of the Rail Quarter development.

According to the Government, the programme has created 5,745 new jobs and released land for the development of 3,336 new homes since it was launched in 2013.

‘This government is committed to helping more people get on the housing ladder and restoring the dream of home ownership for a new generation,’ said housing minister, Kit Malthouse.

‘The One Public Estates programme will not only help more people find a home of their own, but also help create jobs and save taxpayers’ money.

‘The latest projects to share £15million of funding will make a real difference to local communities and provide better services to residents.’

LGA chairman Lord Porter added: ‘I’m pleased to see One Public Estate continue to grow from strength to strength. This latest round will see the programme now deliver more than 650 projects in total, all of which support councils to work with the wider public sector to deliver the best public services and place for their local communities.’