Councils will get over a hundred million pounds tomorrow to help maintain the building of the family and first-time buyer homes still desperately needed announced Housing Minister Margaret Beckett today.

The 2008-09 Housing and Planning Delivery Grant will provide for the first time additional direct funding top up for councils to ensure that new homes are built where families need them.

The Government has already announced a series of measures to alleviate the current challenges in the housing market and support the vital delivery of more homes over the long-term.

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While many councils already deliver good quality homes quickly it is vital that all continue to be flexible and responsive given the current economic climate. Properly identifying land for homes will help hard working families and give the house building industry greater certainty around development proposals.

This new incentive will ensure that councils are able to act now. Those rewarded Councils can decide locally how best to spend this extra funding.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said: "We are determined to continue to do everything possible to ensure long-term fairness in the housing market all across the country - including providing more affordable homes we still need.

"The international credit crunch has created significant challenges for the UK but we have a growing and ageing population and the long term need to provide more homes has not gone away."

"The allocation of £101m will go a long way to ensuring councils and builders are ready to take advantage when the upturn in the economy comes."

(JM)