Details of the new builders finance fund which was announced in the budget have now been revealed as half billion pound fund is available to help smaller housing schemes and increase the number of available homes with applications to be submitted by midday on 25 June 2014.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) writes:
Over half a billion pounds of new investment for smaller housing schemes will help build up to 15,000 homes, Housing Minister Kris Hopkins announced.
The £525 million Builders Finance Fund is an essential part of the government’s long-term economic plan. It will accelerate construction on smaller sites, support 15,000 jobs in construction and sustain hundreds of British businesses.
Mr Hopkins said the collapse of the unsustainable housing boom in 2008 had devastated the construction industry, leading to the loss of 250,000 jobs, and a falling market share for the nation’s smaller builders.
Speaking today at the Home Builders Federation, he will say housebuilding is at its highest level since 2007 and climbing, but the government wants smaller housing schemes to play a bigger role in boosting the supply of new homes.
The new investment will be made available to unlock “shovel-ready” sites between 15 to 250 homes, which have their plans in place and the support of local people, but need a bit of help to get development moving.
All developers will be able to apply for funding, but the focus on smaller schemes will benefit smaller firms who typically build on these sites. A prospectus published today will help housebuilders prepare their bids.
Every home built under the scheme will support a person’s job. That means 15,000 job opportunities, and a boost for hundreds of small businesses that supply building materials to developers.
Almost a million independent firms are involved in the construction industry, accounting for 20% of all small and medium-sized companies, and businesses that supply building products have an annual turnover of more than £50 billion, which contributes 4.5% to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product.
