Development plans
which could see more than 10,000 new homes built across England and 14,000 new
jobs created by 2024/25 are to be brought forward through a £15million
government project.
The One Public
Estate programme was launched in 2013 to make better use of public-sector
sites, free up space for new homes and create jobs.
It encourages the
emergency services, local councils and government departments to work more
closely together by sharing sites and creating public-sector ‘hubs’ - where
services are delivered in one place. So far, the programme has saved taxpayers
£24million in running costs, created 5,745 new jobs and released land for the
development of 3,336 new homes.
The latest round of
the programme will see money and support given to more than 100 local
public-sector partnerships across England, to bring forward proposals for a
range of new projects on public-sector sites.
These include:
- £680,000 for projects in
Waltham Forest, including proposals to bring forward the redevelopment of
the 100-year-old Whipps Cross Hospital and sites in public and private
ownership for housing development in the Forest Road Corridor
- £505,000 for projects in
Devon and Torbay, including the regeneration of land around St David’s
station in Exeter
- £405,000 for projects in
Northamptonshire, including plans to release land around Kettering railway
station for the development of new houses and station improvements
- £410,000 for projects in
Worcestershire, including delivering new housing and regeneration around
Redditch station, as part of the Rail Quarter development
The One Public
Estate programme is a joint initiative between the Cabinet Office, the Ministry
of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Local Government
Association. It now covers 95% of all local authority areas in England.
Funding for the
latest round of the programme will help with the creation of feasibility
studies and masterplans for the potential development sites.
It is hoped the work
will bring forward savings of £37million in public-sector running costs and
allow the redevelopment of a large number of brownfield sites.
The Minister of
State for Housing, Kit Malthouse, said: "The One Public Estates programme
will not only help more people find a home of their own, but also help create
jobs and save taxpayers’ money.
"The latest
projects to share £15million of funding will make a real difference to local
communities and provide better services to residents."
Lord Porter,
Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "This latest round
will see the programme now deliver more than 650 projects in total, all of
which support councils to work with the wider public sector to deliver the best
public services and place for their local communities.
"The delivery
of new homes remains a national priority and with 95% of councils now part of
the programme. It’s clear to see that local government remains committed to
building the right homes for the places they serve."
