Councils and developers can team up to bid for government assistance to build thousands of new homes on previously-developed land.

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis published the bidding criteria for a share of £200m that will help create 10 housing zones on brownfield land where it will be easier to build new homes quickly.

The new zones, which will be outside London, should be large enough to deliver 750 to 2,000 properties, and will complement plans for 20 new housing zones in the capital. A separate bidding process for £400m from the government and the Mayor is already underway.

-- Advertisement --

Mr Lewis said housing zones will help councils boost housebuilding while making the best possible use of previously-developed land so the countryside is safeguarded.

Mr Lewis said: "We need to build more homes in this country, but it's also vital we protect the countryside that people rightly treasure. That's why the government is offering councils a share of £200 million to prioritise development on brownfield land.

"The new dedicated housing zones will transform disused and derelict land, and ensure the new homes are built quickly in a process that is more straightforward for councils and builders."

(CD/JP)