The UK Government has revealed a £45 million cash injection to support the construction of thousands of new homes on council-owned land.

A total of 79 community projects will receive Land Release funding to help deliver up to 7,280 homes.

The projects – which aim to support building strong communities – include a range of necessary works such as asbestos removal and bat alleviation, as well as schemes that will significantly improve quality of life such as essential relocating of a pelican crossing.

Key schemes include;

• Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire, to build new roads, roundabouts, and utility services, which will unlock up to 330 homes potentially built with Japanese modular housing techniques. The works will cost £1.7m.

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• Worcester to demolish a leisure centre and undergo asbestos decontamination works near its city centre, helping to unlock up to 50 homes. The project will cost £750,000.

• Paignton, Devon, to build a new 350m sewer, drainage upgrades and 2 new roads, which will help unlock up to 200 homes. The works will cost £1.9m.

• Brighton, Sussex, to divert a public sewer and make electricity substation and highways improvements. The £335,000 project will help unlock up to 30 homes.

Announcing the funding today, 16 February, Housing Minister Dominic Raab said: "We are investing £45 million to build roads and provide utilities, so councils can release the land to get up to 7,280 new homes built.

"It's part of our strategy to build the homes Britain needs, and carry local communities with us.

"We're determined to make buying or renting more affordable for young families and those on low or middle incomes."

The successful bids will release land for homes by March 2020. To view the list of successful Land Release Fund projects, visit here.

(LM)