A cash boost of £6 million for new affordable homes was recently secured for Cambridgeshire from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The money was made available through the National Affordable Housing Programme. The cash will help deliver approximately 154 new homes for people on the housing needs list via Registered Housing Providers.

More than half the investment in the County was in South Cambridgeshire totalling a grant of £3.2 million for twelve affordable housing schemes which will provide approximately 72 homes. The money has been granted to South Cambridgeshire District Council's six partner housing associations who will deliver the homes.

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Four of the housing developments; Walnut Farm, The Valley, Spong Drove and Church Street are on exception sites which have been granted planning permission under policy HG/5 for exception sites from the council's Local Development Framework. This Framework allows schemes to be built outside, but adjacent to the village's current development framework, provided that there is proven local housing need. The development also needs to remain as affordable housing stock for those in housing need as part of the rules.

Steve Collins, Head of Area for the HCA in the East of England said: "This investment will provide a much-needed boost for South Cambridgeshire. The homes will be a mix of shared ownership and social rented homes for local people in predominantly rural areas. With all homes due to start on site before March 2011, this is excellent news."

(CD/GK)