7 August 2009, 09/166
Grant bid to build 17 new homes for rent in Skelmersdale
West Lancashire Borough Council is bidding for
a grant to build 17 new homes for rent in Skelmersdale.
The Council has put in a bid to the Homes and
Communities Agency (the national housing and regeneration agency
for England) for around £850,000 to part-fund the proposed £1.7
million development. The remainder of the cost would be funded by
the Council from rental income.
If the bid is successful, the properties will
be the first new Council houses built in West Lancashire for more
than 15 years.
Cllr Val Hopley, portfolio holder for housing,
said: “There is growing demand for Council houses and this
initiative will help to reduce the time that applicants have to
wait for housing. We have drawn up this bid very carefully to
meet the criteria and are optimistic about our chances. These could
be the first new Council homes built in our borough for well over a
decade.
“I hope our funding bid is successful as it
would bring many benefits. As well as building much-needed new
homes for local people, the project would also provide jobs. We
plan to build high-quality, energy-efficient properties that
are well-insulated and this would mean lower fuel bills for the
tenants.”
A vacant site has been earmarked in Elmstead,
Tanhouse, for the new development, which would be a mix of 8
two-bedroomed houses, 5 three-bedroomed houses and 4 two bedroomed
bungalows. The proposals are subject to planning permission
and, subject to approval, it is scheduled that the houses would be
ready for tenants to move in during early 2011.
West Lancs Council has made the bid under a
new scheme which, for the first time for many years,
enables councils to get grants to build new homes for rent. £100
million has been made available in England to build an estimated
900 properties. Around 200 local authorities are eligible to make
bids and the HCA will announce its decisions during the autumn.
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