The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC) has announced the allocation of a further £11m from the Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) to support 23 redevelopment schemes across 15 councils.
DLUHC says the projects will see “unloved” and disused sites transformed into “vibrant” communities, with tired, derelict buildings demolished and new roads and infrastructure built.
The government’s flagship scheme aims to regenerate brownfield land, boost local communities, and support people onto the property ladder.
Today’s announcement follows the allocation of £58m last month to 53 local councils across the country.
The government says funding allocated from the BLRF so far will release land for more than 6,800 homes by March 2024 and create more than 21,000 jobs in the housing and construction sectors.
All this, it says, is part of its mission to level up communities across the UK.
Projects allocated funding today include:
- Stoke-on-Trent: A former refuse destruction site on Booth Street will be redeveloped with £700,000 of BLRF funding
- Hythe: In Hythe, the District Council will receive £2m towards the site remediation costs of a former waste tip on this council-led development
- Barrow: In Barrow-in-Furness, Barrow Borough Council will receive £1.5m to improve roads, infrastructure and utilities for the Marina Village development and key employment sites, close to the town centre
- Gloucester: A major redevelopment of a derelict former cattle market site at St Oswalds Park will be supported by the BLRF to deliver 180 new homes
- Chorley: In Chorley £1.1m will help bring forward the proposed redevelopment of a council-owned site on Bengal Street, demolishing existing buildings and addressing ground contamination to deliver a mixed use scheme incorporating residential, retail and leisure space
Commenting on the funding, Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said: “Our brownfield-first approach is transforming underused sites into thriving communities where people want to live, work, and visit.
“The investment we are announcing today will help people onto the property ladder, create jobs, deliver new infrastructure, and provide a boost to local communities as we level up across the country.”
The government’s approach to redeveloping brownfield land is also being supported by more than £1.8bn announced at the Budget to renew and restore sites to unlock a further 160,000 homes.
In October, £58 million was allocated to 53 councils in the first tranche of the BLRF, of which up to £25m was made available to self and custom build projects.
The BLRF is delivered by the One Public Estate programme, a collaboration between DLUHC, the Local Government Association, and the Cabinet Office.
Council Brownfield Land Release Fund second round funding allocations:
| Council | Site | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow Borough Council | Marina Village | £1,519,081 |
| Blackpool Council | Former Mountford Centre Site | £54,360 |
| Chorley Borough Council | Bengal Street Development | £1,100,000 |
| Folkstone & Hythe District Council | Development at Princes Parade, Hythe | £2,000,000 |
| Gloucester City Council | St Oswald’s Park, Gloucester | £2,200,000 |
| Harrogate Borough Council | Holmefield Road, Ripon | £35,000 |
| Harrogate Borough Council | Church Close, Sharow | £30,000 |
| Harrogate Borough Council | Pannal Green, Pannal | £30,000 |
| Pendle Borough Council | Bankhouse Road | £200,000 |
| Plymouth City Council | Broadland Green | £100,000 |
| Plymouth City Council | Bampfylde | £55,000 |
| Plymouth City Council | Register Office | £250,000 |
| Plymouth City Council | Elgin Crescent | £90,000 |
| Plymouth City Council | Windmill Car Park | £105,000 |
| Portsmouth City Council | Hertford Place | £300,000 |
| Portsmouth City Council | Hilsea Lodge | £500,000 |
| Portsmouth City Council | Maxstoke Close | £230,000 |
| Stoke-on-Trent City Council | Booth Street | £700,000 |
| Warrington Borough Council | Bewsey and Dallam Independent Living | £350,000 |
| Westminster City Council | Lisson Cottages | £180,000 |
| West Northamptonshire Council | New Southbridge Road | £470,000 |
| Worcestershire County Council | Stourport County Buildings, Stourport on Severn | £400,000 |
| Wiltshire Council | Tilsbury Sports Centre | £150,000 |
Image: Lichtwolke/Shutterstock
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