740 new homes get go-ahead thanks to Kickstart funding

Ten developments totalling 740 homes have got the green light after receiving £10.2m of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency's Kickstart scheme.

The schemes are:

• Steeple Chase, Redcar, North East. Coast and Country Housing Association – 141 homes (£4,566,030).
• Gilead Street, Liverpool. Lovell Partnerships and Riverside Homes – 58 homes (£2,654,500).
• The Pippens, Rugeley, Staffordshire, West Midlands. Persimmon Homes – 52 homes (£507,188).
• Mitchells Brook, Sandwell, West Midlands. Persimmon Homes – 52 homes (£120,563).
• Attwood Green, Birmingham, West Midlands. Persimmon Homes Ltd – 50 homes (£412,395).
• Roebuck Park, Hellingley, South East. Persimmon Homes Ltd – 64 homes (£752,850).
• Repton Park, Ashford, South East. Persimmon Homes Ltd – 56 homes (£631,200).
• Fox Walk, Sandwell, West Midlands. Barratt Developments Plc – 61 homes (£139,098).
• Westpoint, Portishead, South West. Barratt Developments Plc – 96 homes (£246,000).
• Fieldways, Poulton, South West. Barratt Developments Plc – 110 homes (£242,250).

More than 270 schemes, seeking over £900m in funding and with the potential to deliver up to 22,400 homes, were short-listed in July for the first round of Kickstart money. Bids were received from a range of developers – including national and local house builders and housing associations – across all the English regions. 

HCA chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake said: “We’ll now be working through the remaining bids with the aim of finalising all the allocations for this first round in the next two months to ensure that schemes start-on-site by March 2010.”

A due diligence programme is underway by the HCA to assess shortlisted bids to ensure that they represent value for money; can deliver on time; fit with local housing needs; and offer job opportunities.

Housing Minister John Healey also announced that a second round of Kickstart bidding would also open today.  Guidance is being published on the HCA’s website. To comply bidders will need to offer developments with detailed planning permission in place by 31 March 2010 that also meet a range of other eligibility criteria, including a willingness to offer apprenticeships.