Housing Minister John Healey has announced £83 million to get building over 5,700 new and affordable homes stalled by the recession back on track.

Low cost homes for sale on sites across every region of the country are getting support today so more families can take their first step onto the housing ladder through the Government's HomeBuy scheme - which has already helped over 130,000 families buy their first home.

This cash will also get struggling housebuilders building homes again safeguarding over 1,700 jobs.

Because Mr Healey has made it a requirement that those receiving funding must provide apprenticeships and opportunities for local workers, the cash will give 99 additional young people the chance to learn the building trade.


The Minister has already given 141 projects mothballed by the recession cash to get back on track and workers are back on site on many of these. The extra funding means nearly 5,700 homes are now going ahead and 1,700 jobs in the construction have been safeguarded - at a time when the industry needs all the help it can get.

Developers receiving cash have committed to get workers back on site by this time next year, with almost a quarter saying they'll have workers back on site by the end of the month.

Mr Healey said: "We're putting the weight of Government investment into building much-needed affordable homes, keeping people in work and giving young people a chance of apprenticeships.

"That's why today I'm allocating £83 million to get 87 stalled developments across the country up and running again, creating 1,700 jobs and giving more than 2,200 first-time buyers the chance to take an affordable step onto the property ladder.

"In this recession, the Government has not stepped back and left the homes and jobs we need to the market. We're using public funding to keep Britain building through the downturn."

(CD/GK)