The green light has been given by Warwickshire County Council for a pilot working arrangement between the County Council and Homes England, wh...
The green light has been given by Warwickshire County Council for a pilot working arrangement between the County Council and Homes England, which could lead to the delivery of thousands of new affordable and market-price, environmentally friendly homes, if rolled out after the pilot.
The County Council is the first local authority in the country to test the potential for a working agreement with Homes England - a non-departmental public body set up to build more homes more quickly, sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The collaboration means the County Council will benefit from Homes England’s expertise, influence and resources to deliver more quality homes faster, and provide a much-needed boost to our local economy.
If the pilot is successful, Homes England could be a significant driving force, alongside the Council, in delivering regeneration plans across Warwickshire. The aim of the wider collaboration will be to:
- Unlock major regeneration schemes* generating thousands of jobs.
- Deliver developments which lead the way in terms of their quality of design and sustainability, thereby contributing to the objective of a carbon net zero economy by 2050. The new homes will also have active living built in, allowing for walking, cycling and better public transport.
- Deliver much needed affordable and market-price, quality homes for residents, as well as for those who decide to relocate and/or begin their adult careers and lives in Warwickshire.
- Ensure that housing is supported by suitable employment opportunities and that infrastructure is provided at the appropriate time to ensure communities can grow.
Cllr Peter Butlin, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property said: “This exciting pilot project with Homes England is an important milestone for the County Council’s economic recovery plan. It’s vital for us to work with partners and other organisations, both local and national, to deliver better outcomes for our residents and businesses. If successful, this project will not only provide new and better homes, but will also be a huge boost to the local economy with a wide range of jobs, including apprenticeships, being created.”
In October, the County Council agreed the business case for a Warwickshire Property and Development company (WPDC) to oversee the delivery of the new home building projects, thereby supporting the recovery of the local economy and the recovery of town centres.
WPDC will be considered again by the County Council at Cabinet in January 2021 when the business plan of development sites will be up for approval.
*Locations to be confirmed in the new year