Nearly 1,500 homes are set to be built on brownfield sites across the region following a cash boost from East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).
A dozen schemes in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have been identified for grants to support housing development on brownfield land through the government’s Brownfield Housing Fund, which has allocated nearly £17m to EMCCA to deliver the developments.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to kickstart a housing revolution across the region so quickly and begin the challenges of delivering the homes people here need.
“These housing developments will see under-used sites brought back into life in our cities and communities with work starting on some sites. This is a significant stride toward unleashing the potential of brownfield regeneration across our region.”
EMCCA received 50 expressions of interest in bidding for funding for schemes across the region. Independent experts Cushman and Wakefield assessed the applications based on criteria including the ability to get schemes underway quickly.
Now the schemes will undergo further due diligence exercises ahead of business cases for each development being submitted to EMCCA’s Board for final approval.
“It’s really encouraging that applications for this funding were oversubscribed and I’m now working with Government to develop more opportunities for new homes on brownfield land and seeking support for extra funding to get more schemes underway.
“We’re also talking to Homes England about other ways to kickstart housebuilding across the region.”
Ben Pretty, Partner in Cushman & Wakefield’s national land, development and planning team, said: “We received a high number of quality expressions of interest and have been through a rigorous sifting process to identify those most aligned to the EMCCA and MHCLG criteria.
“We look forward to working with EMCCA and scheme promoters to progress the 12 shortlisted schemes through to delivery on site to unlock around 1,500 new homes across the region.”
Jo Nugent, MPP Midlands Director at Homes England, said: “Transforming brownfield sites into new communities with much needed new homes should benefit residents across the East Midlands.
“We’ve been working in partnership with EMCCA to bring these brownfield sites forward, and we now look forward to continuing to support these developments, providing expertise for the due diligence stage, and, ultimately, deliver high-quality homes, and thriving places in the East Midlands.”
