Latest HMRI and housing association funds released

Housing minister John Healey today announced the release of the latest £35m of Housing Market Renewal Initiative funding.

The North West HMRI areas receiving funding are:

• East Lancashire £5m
• Manchester & Salford £4.6m
• Merseyside £5.1m
• Oldham Rochdale £3m
• West Cumbria £0.2m

In a simultaneous announcement, £300m of grants were awarded to 50 housing associations across 119 local authority areas to deliver 5,100 affordable homes.

The North West allocation was £10m for housing associations to build 285 units.

Healey confirmed there have been more than 300 bids from developers for the Government's new Kickstart fund – first announced in the Budget and now topped up to £1bn – to unlock stalled private sector developments. The Homes & Communities Agency is currently assessing bids and the successful projects will be announced later this month.