HCA details impact of Treasury cuts
The Homes & Communities has released details of schemes approved and unapproved as a result of the latest public spending review.
The Treasury yesterday removed £220m from the agency's budget for this year following a £230m cut in May.
Firstly, the North West breakdown for the HCA's second round of Kickstart funding. Those schemes approved in principle but not signed off in time, now pending further review:
- Woodlands Park Darwen, Miller Homes Blackburn with Darwen
- St Thomas Gardens Phase 2 (Pimhole), Lowry Homes, Bury
- Halton Brook, Seddon Homes, Halton
- The Gate, Keepmoat Homes, Knowsley
- Victoria Gate, Lowry Homes, Knowsley
- Hunts Cross Phase 6, Bellway Homes, Liverpool
- Norris Green, Countryside Properties, Liverpool
- Ellergreen Kickstart, New City Vision, Liverpool
- Murcote Road, Prospect GB, Liverpool
- Anfield Phase 2, Keepmoat Homes, Liverpool
- Sarah Point, Ancoats, UK Land & Property, Manchester
- Sites 7.4 & 7.5a, Miles Platting, Lovell Partnership, Manchester
- Primrose Village, Beck Developments, Ribble Valley
- Queens Bedford, Keepmoat Homes, West Sefton
- Westminster Place, Bovis Homes, Warrington
- The Dell, Lake Leaf, Wirral
Secondly, HCA-funded Local Authority New Build programme projects that are not contractually committed and are subject to further evaluation; total shortfall £4.5m, would have built 70 houses:
- Wigan, The Orchards
- Oldham, Clyde Street
- Oldham, Hawthorn Road
- Oldham, Rufford Close
- Wirral, Cherrybank Close
- Wirral, Kennet Close
- Wirral, Woodchurch Lane
On the plus side, the HCA today confirmed 417 approved units to be built by councils under LANB in the North West using £28m of grants that did make it through in time. There were also 20 approvals for Kickstart 2 in the North West, with Redrow, Morris Homes, Miller Homes, JS Bloor, Hollinwood Homes, Persimmon and Lowry Homes awarded cash.
The HCA's statement this afternoon said: "As a result of the funding settlement, the HCA has confirmed that it will be able to meet existing contractual commitments across all of its programmes. It will also be able to provide funding for those Round 2 Kickstart schemes approved before 6 April.
"The balance of funding available will be used to maximise delivery of affordable housing. The HCA local investment teams will therefore review pipeline National Affordable Housing Programme schemes, the remaining Kickstart round 2 schemes and Local Authority New Build schemes which are not in contract and will determine which of those can be funded with available resources based on the aim of maximising affordable housing and achieving best value for money."
The HCA said savings of 10.5% in its running costs will be achieved through a range of measures including job vacancy control, reducing use of consultants, reducing research and travel costs.
- For the HCA briefing document in full and the links to the lists of secured and unsecured housing schemes click here
