By Vivienne Russell
19 February 2010
Housing minister John Healey has named 36 rural councils that will receive funding to help them design and plan new affordable housing developments.
The £1m fund is being jointly provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Successful councils are receiving between £4,000 and £70,000 to help them buy in expert assistance to develop a co-ordinated, long-term strategy for the development of an area. These strategies have been dubbed ‘masterplans’ by the DCLG.
Successful masterplans include Hambleton District Council’s proposals for North Northallteron in Yorkshire. The council is receiving £70,000 to develop a plan for 1,000 homes, a school, businesses and recreation space.
Eden District Council in Cumbria is to receive £50,000 to develop a masterplan for the historic town of Penrith and to help identify the right areas for new homes and employment.
Healey said the lack of affordable homes in rural communities was an acute problem.
‘People have to be able to stay in the countryside for rural areas to prosper. That’s why we’re backing rural councils with funding for the skills to provide homes young families can afford where they want to live.
‘Local authorities should make the most of the expertise on offer to design and plan affordable homes for local people that are built to a high standard and are linked to new opportunities for jobs so rural towns and village can thrive.’
Rural affairs minister Lord Davies added: ‘The support from this fund and the expert help available to the successful authorities will help build those houses, as well as making sure that services and jobs are located where they are most needed for rural areas to secure a thriving future and strong local economies.’
