£30m extra for housing links

Extra cash worth £30m to build transport links supporting new housing developments was released by the government today.

Housing Minister John Healey and Transport Minister Sadiq Khan have earmarked cash from the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) for crucial transport links to support the building of extra homes.

The move backs-up commitments set out in the Prime Minister’s Building Britain's Future plans, and the £1.5 billion Housing Pledge that John Healey announced earlier this month, to build an additional 20,000 new affordable energy efficient homes over the next two years. 

Healey said: "We need to ensure that people and families living in new homes have the transport links they need, whether this is a new road, new bus links or cycle paths.

"This £30m boost for councils places them at the centre of supporting homes, jobs and growth, which is good news for the local area.

"We are working closely with councils, The Homes and Communities Agency and the Department for Transport to ensure these projects are delivered in time. This work will also create construction jobs, help build new homes we need and make sure we have the transport in place to support development."

Twelve schemes across the country are being paid for by CIF, nine of which are improved public transport or walking and cycling routes.