New Homes Built on Derelict Land

Thousands of new homes are set to be built on underused and derelict land with the aim of regenerating local areas and helping people onto the property ladder, thanks to a new initiative from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Around £58 million from the £75 million Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) has been allocated to 53 councils. The new funds will boost local areas by transforming unloved and disused sites into vibrant communities for people to live and work in. This will help to protect the countryside and green spaces while an extra 5,600 homes are built on these sites, supporting young people and families throughout the country into home ownership.

The funding could also support up to 17,000 jobs throughout the housing and construction sector, as well as the wider economy.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove MP, said: “We are levelling up and backing home ownership in every corner of the country, delivering new high-quality, affordable homes and creating thriving places where people want to live, work and visit.

“Making the most of previously developed land is a Government priority and it will help protect our cherished countryside and green spaces.”

This funding allocation includes £5 million for self and custom build projects, while a further £20 million from the BLRF has also been designated to help accelerate the self and custom build sector. With councils also being able to bid for the remainder of the funding, this gives local people the opportunity to build and design their own homes.

Cabinet Office Minister, Lord Agnew, commented: “This support being provided to local authorities is another clear demonstration of this Government’s commitment to levelling up the country.

“The latest projects to benefit from this support, through Brownfield Land Release funding, will not only help unlock under-used public sector sites for homes but also help deliver jobs and save taxpayers’ money.”

Boosting housing supply is central to the levelling up agenda. Last year 244,000 homes were delivered – the highest number of new homes for over 30 years. The Government aims to build up to 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s to put home ownership within reach for more people across the country, making it a more mainstream, realistic and affordable option.

The Government last year announced the £400 million Brownfield Fund for seven mayoral combined authorities which will also deliver much-needed new homes on brownfield land – unlocking 26,000 high-quality homes.

The £150 million backed Help to Build scheme was announced in April. It will allow access to low-deposit mortgages and improve affordability of home ownership for people who want to build their own homes in a similar way to the Help to Buy scheme.

In addition, the review by Richard Bacon MP, which recommended a major scaling up of the self and custom build sector, has been warmly welcomed by the Government with a response to the findings to be published in due course.

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