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More surplus public sector land for new and affordable homes

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (136) issued by The Government News Network on 23 July 2007

Following the Prime Minister's pledge to increase the number of new homes by three million by 2020, Department for Transport and Communities and Local Government have been working together to identify further surplus land.

470 sites have now been identified following a review with BRB (Residuary) Ltd and the Highways Agency (HA) of their surplus landholdings. These sites could make a considerable contribution to Government's increased target of 240,000 homes a year by 2016.

Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said:

"My Department has identified over 2,500 acres of land that could potentially be used for new and affordable homes and is working with English Partnerships to ensure that this land is assessed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"This could mark a significant contribution of land for new homes and I am pleased that we are making such swift progress in bringing forward proposals to meet the Prime Minister's priority of more new and affordable housing.

"In addition the Department is reviewing its land holdings and if further surplus land is identified housing use will be given high priority".

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said:

"We need to build more houses for the next generation, and we've made clear that brownfield sites are the priority for this.

"This is why we've been working with the Department for Transport to identify further surplus sites and I am delighted that we can today announce 470 sites that could contribute to the pressing need for more homes."

Both Departments are working with English Partnerships to establish a programme to review potentially surplus land assets along with developing a disposal strategy to bring forward quick and efficient transfer for delivery of new and affordable homes.

Further details on the specific sites will be available in due course.

Notes to Editors

1. The 470 sites are among the 550 sites being examined for housing development by central Government as stated by the Prime Minister in his Parliamentary statement on 11 July. The full statement can be found here: http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12422.asp

2. Also published today is the Housing Green Paper, which can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/homesforthefuture

3. BRB (Residuary) Ltd is a company wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Transport. It manages the majority of the remaining property, rights and liabilities of the British Railways Board. Further information can be found here: http://www.brb.gov.uk/

4. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

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