Extra £17m to transform derelict sites for new homes, helping to level up region
Published: Thursday 24 Feb 2022
Derelict and underused sites in Birmingham City Centre, Coventry and Telford will be among those transformed into 1,300 new homes, backed by over £17m of government funding, the Housing Minister announced during a visit to the area today (Thursday 24 February).
The allocations follow publication of the government's landmark Levelling Up White Paper this month, which sets out plans to reverse the country's geographical inequalities and spread opportunity, including regenerating communities across the UK.
Visiting Birmingham today, Stuart Andrew hailed the West Midlands as leading the way in transforming unused industrial sites into attractive and desirable areas, while creating local business opportunities and jobs.
More derelict sites across the West Midlands will be transformed for homes and jobs following an extra £17m funding from Government
The funding will deliver hundreds of new homes across the region, alongside new digital skills, enterprise, and employment opportunities.
As well as supporting young people and families into home ownership, the funding will protect cherished green spaces and replace unsightly derelict buildings and car parks with new homes.
Housing Minister Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP said: Transforming derelict brownfield land into vibrant places where people want to live and work is a key part of levelling up and is something I have supported for my entire career.
The West Midlands is leading the way with former industrial sites right across the region being regenerated, protecting green spaces and building more homes so young people and families have the opportunity to get onto the housing ladder.
Our levelling up plans for housing will be guided by this brownfield first approach, including supporting more self and custom build homes to be built, which will boost small builders and create thousands of jobs
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), said: The West Midlands has been leading the nation when it comes to breathing new life into former industrial sites, transforming derelict, unviable land into vibrant new communities that provide quality homes, jobs and environments for local people.
This latest funding is further recognition from government of our region's huge success, credibility and expertise in unlocking brownfield land for regeneration, securing private sector investment and protecting our precious green belt in the process.
This new housing money, which follows on from the hundreds of millions already secured from Government in recent years, will help us continue our comprehensive regeneration programme with the construction of thousands of much-needed new and affordable homes using our brownfield-first approach."
A further £8 million from the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) has also today been allocated to 13 councils to deliver almost 900 homes across the country, with Wolverhampton receiving £647,000. It follows plans set out in the Levelling Up White Paper last week, which will see Wolverhampton transformed through ambitious regeneration projects across the city.
Today's funding builds on £28 million for to the West Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority announced earlier this month as part of the Levelling Up White Paper. This will transform derelict brownfield sites into vibrant places where people want to live and work, including over 2,000 new homes.