Greater Brighton leaders have hailed more than £45 million of government investment which will see thousands of homes created in the City Region.
Six separate projects across Greater Brighton have received funding through the Housing Infrastructure Fund announced by ministers yesterday (February 1, 2018).
This will directly unlock around 2,500 homes across the region, as well as accelerating the delivery of a further 3,500 properties on challenging high profile schemes, such as the King Alfred in Hove.
Greater Brighton leaders said it was further proof of the region’s desirability for investors from the public and private sectors.
The successful funding bids were:
- Free Wharf – Western Harbour Arm (Shoreham-By-Sea) – £10 million
- King Alfred Development, Brighton & Hove – £15.2 million
- Telford Place, Crawley – £2 million
- Forge Wood, Crawley – £4.4 million
- North Street Quarter, Lewes – £10 million
- Northern Arc, Western Gateway, Burgess Hill – £6.54 million
Councillor Andy Smith, chairman of the Greater Brighton Economic Board and leader of Lewes District Council, said: “One of the major aims of my year as chairman is driving forward the housing agenda so I’m delighted to see this cash impetus in six very different but equally essential projects.
“Building on brownfield sites is never easy and this funding from the government will help developers bring forward schemes which will include some much-needed affordable housing for people already working within the City Region.
“On a personal note, I am delighted to see the North Street Quarter in Lewes receive recognition giving the transformational impact it will have on my own district.
“The funding as a whole is recognition that ministers recognise and are supportive of the work that councils, business and academia are doing to drive forward growth in the City Region.”
The six projects were part of 133 council-led projects across the country to receive funding.
The government said it will make housing developments viable and get much-needed homes built quicker. Without this financial support these projects would struggle to go ahead or take years for work to begin, delaying the homes these communities need.
When announcing the news, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, said: “This marks the first step of the multi-billion pound investment we announced at the Budget to help build the homes our country needs.
“This fund finances vital infrastructure such as roads, schools and bridges, which will kick-start housing development in some of Britain’s highest-demand areas.
“This support will help us meet our ambitious plan of building 300,000 new homes each year and ensure we have enough housing in areas which need it most.”