Thousands of new homes will be built in two areas as a result of £142m investment in infrastructure, housing minister Kit Malthouse has announced.

The funding for schemes in Woking and Truro is part of the Government’s target to build 300,000 new homes a year.

The money will be spent on widening bridges, building roads and connecting utilities so up to 8,500 properties can be built.

The spending, under the Housing Infrastructure Fund, is part of the Government’s drive to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

In Woking £95m will pay to widen the Victoria Arch Bridge, road improvements, buying land and connecting utilities so that Surrey County Council can build up to 4,500 homes.

In Truro, Cornwall, an extra 4,000 homes will be built as a result of a £47 million investment in new road links.

Housing minister Kit Malthouse said: 'For decades, governments of all stripes and types have not built enough new homes but we are turning that around, brick by brick.

'We are driving to create homes, opportunities and thriving communities – and this £142m investment will mean we can build more of the properties our country so badly needs.

'We need to keep upping our game and build more, better, faster, if we are to meet our ambition to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.'