The Government has announced a £30m fund to help release surplus public sector land for new housing.
Councils will be able to bid for £20m from the Land Release Fund for remediation works and infrastructure to bring their surplus sites forward for housing. An extra £10m will be provided through the One Public Estate (OPE) programme to support the earliest stages of development.
Cabinet Office minister, Lord Agnew, said: ‘By taking a fresh look at how we use buildings and release surplus public property and land, the One Public Estate programme has helped to create thousands of new homes and jobs and breathed new life into communities.’
Housing minister, Christopher Pincher, added: ‘This new funding will help councils right across England to turn unloved, unused land into new homes and communities where they are needed most. It is an important part of how we are working with local government and the housing industry at every level to support our recovery from the impact of the pandemic.’
The additional funding has been welcomed by the Local Government Association who said it would enable councils to make better use of their assets.
