The minister of state for housing, Kit Malthouse, launched over the weekend a multi-million pound fund to help voluntary groups deliver thousands of discounted homes.
The groups will be able to apply for between £10,000 and £50,000 each to help identify suitable sites for discounted homes, get planning permission for them and to provide other technical support.
Free specialist advice will also be made available for those who participate in the three year pilot scheme, which is designed to help deliver affordable housing through locally-led neighbourhood plans.
‘Supporting volunteers who are passionate about building more of the homes we need in their communities is something I’m fully behind, and I want to see far more people getting involved across England,’ said Mr Malthouse.
‘This funding is on top of the £26m already available to help get neighbourhood plans over the line, which act as powerful tools for communities to be involved in the planning of their local area – providing different housing types for those who need new homes.’
Last year, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a support package totalling £26m for communities seeking to prepare and adopt a neighbourhood plan.
Today’s £8.5m is in addition to this and will act as a pilot for the specific delivery of discounted homes. It will run from 13 May 2019 to 31 March 2022.
