Cheshire East Council acts to boost housing development

 

Cheshire East Council is to use £1m to boost housing development across the Borough.

The money from the Council’s capital fund will be used to encourage developers and social housing providers to bring forward stalled housing sites. 

Cheshire East Council’s Housing Challenge Fund will award grants of up to £150,000. It will be launched on January 31 (2013).

New homes are urgently needed to boost the economic growth of Cheshire East. However, the downturn in the economy has had a significant impact in hampering the building of new houses.

By the end of 2012, there were 6,600 dwellings with planning approval in Cheshire East. 

There were many smaller sites which have full or outline planning permissions where development has not started and where there is no indication of a start date. These have the potential to deliver more than 2,000 homes across the authority. 

Cheshire East is trying to encourage developers to start to build on these sites to bring forward both market value homes and affordable housing.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cabinet member with responsibility for prosperity and economic regeneration, said: “The provision of housing is a key priority for the Council.

“Housing is fundamental to the wellbeing and prosperity of Cheshire East and can have an impact on health, educational attainment, carbon reduction and care for older people. Providing sufficient housing is essential to maintain economic growth and vitality.

“The Housing Challenge Fund will help give developers an incentive to start building and bring forward much-needed accommodation for the people of Cheshire East – as well as support our plans to deliver economic growth.”

Developers and registered housing providers are invited to apply for a prospectus by emailing Vikki Jeffrey at Vikki.jeffrey@cheshireeast.gov.uk

The closing date for bids is March 31, and announcements will be made in May (2013).