After a gap of over 40 years, new Council houses will be built again in Bolsover district, thanks to government funding of almost £1million.

The cash, from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), will help to replace pre-fab bungalows on Oxcroft Lane, Bolsover with more up to date, modern and energy efficient properties.

Bolsover District Council Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Keith Bowman said: "We are delighted with this news and we know our tenants will be as well. We will benefit from nearly one-million pounds of grant funding giving us the chance to build eighteen new, energy efficient, bungalows before the 2012 completion deadline. With the largest council house building programme for nearly two decades already underway, the Government has doubled its cash for new council homes and this investment is very welcome."

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Housing Minister, John Healey announced that 73 councils covering every region of England will share an extra £122.6 million. Councils will match the Government’s grant with prudential borrowing, bringing total public investment in the programme to over £500m to build more than 4,000 new council homes for 8,000 people.

And for the first time, Mr Healey has required all councils receiving Government funds to offer apprenticeship and local job recruitment schemes, creating 7,500 jobs and around 100 new apprenticeship places.

Margaret Allen, Regional Director of the HCA, said: "The level of interest has been tremendous and demonstrates the appetite of local authorities to lead directly on affordable housing supply. We are pleased that this investment will allow Bolsover District Council to start building their own high quality affordable homes and it will help to create sustainable new communities in the area."

(CD/GK)