NEW HOMES BONUS CASH BOOST FOR GREATER MANCHESTER COUNCILS
December 5, 2011 1:49 PM
Councils in Greater Manchester received a cash boost today as Lib Dem Communities Minister and Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell announced £16m of extra funding for the area through the New Homes Bonus.
Councils are rewarded for building new homes, and bringing empty homes back into use. Council Tax on each home is matched by the Government for six years, with an extra £350 premium for every affordable home.
This year the government is paying out £16.4 million this year to the ten councils in Greater Manchester for building 3,503 new homes and bringing 2.240 empty homes back into use. Almost 2,000 of these homes were affordable homes.
Councils can spend the money how they see fit, providing extra cash for local priorities.
Commenting, Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said:
"These are very pleasing figures, showing that the New Homes Bonus is acting as a spur to get councils building new homes, and bringing more empty homes back into use - which councils across Greater Manchester are doing in increasing numbers.
"It's a win-win situation for local communities - £16m of extra funding for frontline services and almost 6,000 extra homes for local people.
"Labour's top-down approach to building homes just didn't work. It was unrealistic and ineffective, and didn't take into account local needs or wishes.
"Instead the New Homes Bonus is introducing a culture change - making it easier to persuade local people to go for development, and rewarding communities that go for growth.
"After thirteen years of Labour's failed approach, the Coalition is determined to get Britain Building again, and the New Homes Bonus is doing exactly that."
Ends
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