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Housing Minister John Healey met the first workers back on site of a stalled housing project in New Broughton, Salford, that thanks to over £7m government cash is now back on track.
Mr Healey also confirmed that a further 45 stalled building projects across the country have passed government's stringent tests and met final conditions to also receive the Kickstart cash they need to get them building again.
This means that 136 projects have now received the green light to receive a share of £359m government Kickstart cash to build over 10,000 much needed homes and create thousands of construction jobs. Many of these developments are expected to get underway in a matter of weeks.
Around 300 builders, including many local workers and apprentices, will work on this 169 home Salford development, part of a larger regeneration of the area, that had been stalled for over a year due to the recession. With building work restarting this week it is the first project in the North West to get underway, with a total of £62m Kickstart cash invested to get projects across the region back on track and deliver over 1750 much needed homes.
While he was in Salford, Mr Healey met Stacey Smith, a resident of the part of the New Broughton development who bought her new home at a reduced cost through the government's Homebuy Direct scheme.
Mr Healey said: "Today I've seen the difference the power of government investment is making. Thanks to millions of pounds of government cash housebuilders are building again, creating jobs and helping to tackle the shortage of affordable homes.
"After over a year at a standstill, building work at New Broughton is back on track to provide over 160 homes for first time buyers, social tenants and market buyers alike. "I'm determined to continue to support projects like this across the country so I am pleased to give the green light to £153m for a further 45 sites today. This means that 136 developments have now been given the go ahead - creating 7500 jobs. This is real help now when it is needed most."
(CD/KMcA)
