Housing Minister Grant Shapps has announced that the second year of cash payments under the New Homes Bonus will total over £430m, more than double the first year's payment.
Funding will be shared by 353 councils for helping to deliver nearly 159,000 homes last year - either new homes or empty properties brought back into use - and from a second round of payments for homes built the year before.
Council tax raised from new homes is matched by the Government for the first six years, and affordable homes attract a higher payment.
This year's larger payment includes £210m for new and empty homes delivered in 2010 -11, a second instalment of almost £200m for homes built in 2009 -10, and the first premium for affordable homes totalling some £20m.
The minister said: "For years communities fought against development because they saw no evidence of how it improved their lives. But there is a culture shift taking place across the country - communities that are going for growth are reaping rewards for their local area, and councillors can now lead a mature debate about the benefits of development.”
Roger Milne
15 December 2011
