Government has announced £8m funding for local communities

The government will provide local communities with a share of £8m to help progress development plans. 

£6m will be allocated to locally-led garden communities in order to help progress plans that could potentially deliver over 200,000 new homes.

The latest garden community to receive funding will be built at Wynyard. It has already received £150,000 and once the development is complete it will be the largest garden community in the North East.

The other £2m will be allocated to councils to support new neighbourhood plans.

Housing minister Esther McVey said: ‘Communities have the local insight to decide what new homes should look like and the kind of infrastructure they need in their area.

‘This is what neighbourhood planning is all about, so I’m pleased this funding will ensure that the right homes are built in the right places.

The mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen added: ‘I am delighted that this funding has been approved.

‘The proposed garden community will take more pressure off nearby developments when it comes to the excessive building which is changing the character of our villages and towns for the worse and proving to be a real headache for residents.’

In September last year (2019), Tony Burton wrote for New Start about the potential of neighbourhood planning.

He wrote that neighbourhood plans are influencing the location and design of new housing, protecting green space and heritage, revitalising high streets and bringing people together to shape the future of their area.

Photo Credit – Pixabay