New Homes Bonus generates £63m for councils
Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, Liverpool and Leeds are the top five councils for bringing empty homes back into use and have accessed part of £63m in government funding, according to Department of Communities and Local Government minister Don Foster.
The New Homes Bonus scheme has awarded the £63m to councils who brought back 38,000 empty homes to use in the last two years.
Said Foster: “I’m delighted we’ve had such a positive start and encourage all councils to work hard in transforming empty properties, which drag down neighbourhoods, and instead turn them into homes fit for families.
“By making councils accountable to their residents, not to Whitehall, we are ensuring local tax-payers have the ability to check that money is being spent efficiently and decisions taken for the benefit of the communities they serve.”
The New Homes Bonus scheme rewards councils who increase housing stock by building new homes or converting empty properties. It match funds the additional council tax raised, with an additional amount for affordable homes, for the following six years.