Work on major housebuilding projects in North Northamptonshire is to resume following confirmation of £20.8m of Government funding through its Kickstart Programme.
More than 640 new homes will be built by 31 March 2011 as a result of the funding package, which will deliver hundreds of new construction jobs and provide a significant boost to numerous local suppliers and businesses.The funding will bring forward the development of a new community at Priors Hall, the first sustainable urban extension (SUE) to be created in North Northamptonshire. Major improvements to transport infrastructure will be financed by this development to enhance access to local employment sites.
The Kickstart funding has been secured as a result of a joint bid and initiative named ‘Partnership Villages’ that has been put together by the local delivery vehicle North Northants Development Company (NNDC), Corby Borough Council and the developer and landowner Bela Partnership.
Following short-listing of development projects in July 2009, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency for England, have confirmed that work is to recommence on the following developments:
Priors Hall – An urban extension to the north east of Corby, home to the £30m Corby Business Academy and location for the £8.3m Corby Enterprise Centre – currently under construction.
• 388 homes to be built following Kickstart funding of £12.4m.
Kingswood – part of a wider Corby Borough Council-led regeneration project named Creative Corby, which aims to improve social housing estates in the town.
• £4.8m of Kickstart funding to enable the delivery of 116 new homes, creating an attractive new community in place of the run down estate that previously existed.
Little Stanion – a distinctive new village offering a blend of traditional principles and contemporary living situated within easy reach of Kettering and Northampton.
• £1.9m of Kickstart funding to deliver 50 new homes at Little Stanion Farm
• £1.7m to deliver a further 45 homes at Little Stanion including affordable/ flexible tenure housing.
• Developer contributions secured as a result of these housing projects will unlock major improvements to local transport and community infrastructure (e.g. a primary school at Priors Hall) and ensure continued investment in the improvement of Corby town centre.
In advance of today’s announcement, public and private partners behind the Partnership Villages have already submitted further bids for funding to be made available under the second round of the Kickstart programme. The proposals would deliver approximately 2,400 homes.
Simon Evans, Chief Executive of North Northants Development Company, said:
"Housing growth has been a catalyst for significant regeneration in Corby that has helped to transform its town centre and attract major private sector investment in its shopping facilities.
This funding will provide a timely stimulus for the local employment and housing markets and ensure new infrastructure in the form of roads, schools and other community facilities continues to come forward. To secure this funding is testament to the strength of the Partnership Villages initiative which, if we are successful in the second round of the Kickstart programme, will help to deliver housing-led growth across other areas of North Northamptonshire."
MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Phil Hope said:
“I am delighted that Corby is benefiting from this huge £20m ‘Kick Start’ to build hundreds of new homes and regenerate central areas of the town. This hasn’t happened by chance. The Government’s promise to bring real help to businesses and families and the enormous efforts of the North Northamptonshire Development Company and Corby Borough Council have made this happen.
“Corby has weathered the economic storm, and this extra investment will unlock new house building schemes, bringing new jobs, new homes and a boost to the whole economy of the town.”
Housing minister John Healey said: “This is a huge boost for Corby and for the local construction industry, benefiting from the biggest slice of Kickstart funding in the country. Over £17 million Government cash is helping work get underway at Priors Hall and Kingswood, delivering over 500 local homes, creating over 200 jobs and training over 20 apprentices. “The power of Government investment is helping to change the shape of Corby, revitalizing the heart of the town and providing the cash for much needed new homes and the foundation for a much larger investment in the future of the area.”
Margaret Allen, regional director of the HCA East Midlands, said:
“This significant investment through the Kickstart programme will help to provide more affordable homes and build new communities in Corby and the surrounding area. In addition the funding will have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy and create new jobs and training opportunities for local people.”
Leader of Corby Borough Council, Cllr Pat Fawcett, said:
"Corby is going from strength to strength and with this funding we will be able to keep the momentum of our growth programme running by delivering quality housing in several areas. As well as creating great new communities we will also be able to start work on the regeneration of Kingswood giving the area the attractive modern homes that Corby residents deserve."
For further details: www.homesandcommunities.co.uk