Housing Minister Mark Prisk has confirmed that the government is to release £1 billion of funding to bring sub-standard council homes up to scratch.
Housing Minister Mark Prisk has confirmed that the government is to release £1 billion of funding to bring sub-standard council homes up to scratch. The Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) said the money would be a boost to local businesses across the country.
The funding will be allocated over the next two years to 41 councils, and is expected to bring over 86,000 homes up to a decent living standard.
Research by Nottingham University has shown that every pound spent on Nottingham's Decent Homes Programme created £1.46-worth of spending in the local economy, with orders to tradesmen and suppliers generating more work and new jobs. The cash will help councils bring their homes up to a decent standard, with work to be carried out from fitting new roofs and windows, to updating kitchens or heating systems.
The investment will secure the future of the Decent Homes Programme until the end of the current Parliament.
Prisk said that this new construction and skilled work would be a "shot in the arm" for thousands of local businesses and tradesmen, supporting the government's measures to boost British jobs and the economy. He also said he is keen to explore bringing forward some of this funding to councils to help boost their economies through local investment in decent homes. Officials will shortly be in touch with councils to see what may be done to achieve this.
The Minister said that spending money earlier would help boost local employment as early as possible, as well as delivering home improvements for tenants ahead of schedule.
"By improving this country's council homes we will transform many families' lives for the better, bringing their living standards up to scratch ensuring that their home is the safe haven it is meant to be. The benefits of the £1 billion reach far beyond tenants themselves and into the local economy. With every pound spent on improvements boosting local business, creating new jobs and supporting local spending, I want to see councils realising the benefits of this cash as soon as possible."
Full details of allocations can be found here: www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/sites/default/files/our-work/dhb_allocations.csv
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