Medway Council has made a call for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Homes England to continue their support for the Housing Infrastructure Fund, as the council looks to deliver new infrastructure.
The Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) is worth £170 million to Medway, however there is a risk that Homes England could pull out of its support for the scheme. Due to this, Medway Council is urging the agency to ensure it is committed to the delivery of the funding, as it would have serious implications for housing and infrastructure plans in Medway.
A detailed plan was submitted by the council in March 2023, with this outlining how the council would be able to deliver 28,500 new homes by 2040 and inside the £170 million budget that was agreed four years prior. Should the funding be withdrawn, Medway Council’s government-mandated target of 28,5000 new homes, as well as a sustainable, garden community future, could be under threat.
Councillor Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, said:
“The HIF underpins the aspirations of the council to delvier the full potential of sustainable growth on the peninsula as part of our vision for the whole of Medway.
“We need Homes England to be pragmatic, work in partnership with us and explore all the options that would enable the provision of critical new infrastructure ahead of new homes and jobs.
“Critically, stopping the HIF project would not stop new homes coming. It will stop the vital roads, public transport, and public access to green spaces that current residents have been clamouring for. It will also jeopardise crucial new jobs coming to Medway. Importantly, the HIF funding unlocks other contributions from developers to support the delivery of vital infrastructure such as new schools, healthcare, and community facilities.
“It is vital that new homes are built in the right locations, alongside places to work and learn, with the right roads and community infrastructure to sustain Medway’s economic and social prosperity of which the Housing Infrastructure Fund is the backbone.”
The future of the Housing Infrastructure Fund is to be decided by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
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