THURROCK’S housing councillor has welcomed the latest government announcement that the borough is to receive £700,000 for new homes.
Cllr Lynn Worrall, speaking on Tuesday (5 January) said: “Today’s announcement is very pleasing.
“It was back in March last year we were told we were one of 20 areas outside London to win Housing Zone status.
“Our application focused on our Thames-side towns and will deliver 2,500 new homes for affordable rent and private sale by 2020.”
A “housing zone” is an area of land where the government provides funding to unlock the scheme – such as infrastructure, site acquisition and leaseholder buyouts.
Developer and local councils commit to providing a certain level of affordable and private housing, and must meet these targets on deadline as a condition of the funding.
Providing homes should be easier and quicker to build on brownfield land.
Cllr Worrall said: “This award of a £700,000 grant will ensure the technical studies and project management work necessary will be done so we and our partners will be able to secure our housing development and regeneration ambitions.”
Thurrock’s housing zone includes seven sites across Grays and Purfleet – some stalled such as Fiddlers Reach and Howard Road – and some currently being bought by the council, such as the VOSA site in Purfleet as well as the council’s regeneration estates.
