Nicholas Soames has welcomed the announcement today of £6.5m for the Northern Arc in Burgess Hill.

The Government has announced £866 million investment in local housing projects to help get up to 200,000 extra homes built nationally.

This funding will support local work that will make housing developments viable and get much-needed homes built more quickly. Without this investment these projects would struggle to go ahead or take years for work to begin.

This Government is committed to building 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s so more people are able buy a home of their own. The funding announced today is the first wave of funding from the £5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund which is part of our comprehensive programme to fix the broken housing market that has left too many struggling to afford a place of their own.

This latest investment will fund key local infrastructure projects including new roads, cycle paths, flood defences and land remediation work, all essential ahead of building the homes.

Nicholas Soames commented; “I was really pleased to support Mid Sussex in their successful application for £6.5m to support local work in the Northern Arc. It is great news as we can help ensure that we build the homes that local people need more quickly.

“We are determined to build the right homes in the right places and help the next generation to get the keys to a home of their own.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, said; “Today marks the first step of the multi-billion pound investment we announced at the Budget to help build the homes our country needs.

“This fund finances vital infrastructure such as roads, schools and bridges, which will kick-start housing development in some of Britain’s highest-demand areas.”

Housing Secretary, Sajid Javid, said; “Our priority is building the homes this country desperately needs.

“This first wave of investment totalling £866 million will help get up to 200,000 homes off the ground, making a huge difference to communities across the country.

“This is just one of the many ways this Government is taking action to get Britain building homes again.”

Notes

• The £5 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund is a government capital grant programme to help unlock new homes in areas with the greatest housing demand. Funding is awarded to local authorities on a highly competitive basis.
• The fund is divided into two streams:
  • A Marginal Viability Fund 
  – available to all single and lower tier local authorities in England – to provide a piece of infrastructure funding to get additional sites allocated or existing sites unblocked quickly. Bids have a soft cap of £10 million.
  • A Forward Fund
  – available to the uppermost tier of local authorities in England – for a small number of strategic and high-impact infrastructure projects. Bids have a soft cap of £250 million.
• Today’s announcement forms part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy which sets out a long term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK.
• The Strategy sets out how we are building a Britain fit for the future – how we will help businesses create better, higher-paying jobs in every part of the UK with investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.

Photo: Sir Nicholas with Councillors Jonathan Ash-Edwards and Garry Wall following the announcement of £6.5m Government funding for the Northern Arc in Burgess Hill. Friday, 2nd February, 2018.

Photo: Sir Nicholas with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government; Sajid Javid MP, welcoming the announcement of £6.5m Government funding for the Northern Arc in Burgess Hill.  House of Commons, Monday, 5th February, 2018