Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
WMCA to help build affordable homes for key workers
A new multi-million-pound land deal struck by the West Midlands Combined Authority will see affordable homes built for nurses and other low paid staff working at the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
With many nurses and key workers struggling to get a foot on the property ladder, the WMCA has stepped in to buy two plots of industrial land within a short walk of the hospital which is currently under construction in Sandwell. The combined authority intends to use the plots to provide quality new houses and apartments, at least 40 of which will be affordable homes available specifically to those on modest incomes.
Once the WMCA has submitted a planning application, a development partner will then be secured to deliver around 200 homes while implementing its standard funding condition that requires at least 20 per cent of all the new properties to be affordable. This will be set against its new landmark regional affordable housing definition announced earlier this month.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “NHS and other key workers make a vital contribution to society right across the West Midlands, but like many others in the region they have seen house prices outstrip wages in recent years and found it impossible to get on the housing ladder. On top of this, many also struggle to find homes close to where they work, which means long commutes and added pressure on what are already demanding jobs.
“The WMCA and its partners are determined to tackle this housing affordability issue, and that is exactly what we are trying to do at Abberley Street and Cranford Way. Not only will these homes be a stone's throw from the Midland Metropolitan hospital, but at least 20 per cent of the houses and apartments will be affordable including homes which specifically meet our new regional definition linked to income rather than the property market rate."
The Midland Metropolitan Hospital is being built on a six-acre site a short distance away in Grove Lane and is scheduled to open in summer 2022.
Latest News
26/04/2024 - 12:12
New planning powers come into effect today giving local councils more tools to hold rogue developers to account as part of the government’s Levelling-up and Regeneration Act.
26/04/2024 - 11:13
Sport England has published a report which reveals a long-term increase in activity levels among adults, but also highlights further action is need
25/04/2024 - 12:28
The Welsh government will work with councils to set out a three-phase plan to implement a 20mph limit.
25/04/2024 - 11:56
£11 million of grant funding has been confirmed for public sector bodies in Scotland.
25/04/2024 - 10:32
The Labour Party has announced that it would renationalise most passenger rail services within five years.
Company Focus
Located in Bromley, Japanese Knotweed Eradication Ltd has been providing solutions in the treatment and removal of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica) for over a decade. During this time we have mastered a repertoire of methods, from herbicidal treatments to landscaping solutions, tailored to address the unique challenges our clients face with this pervasive weed.
Event Diary
UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.
Supplier Profiles
At GeoEnergy Design, we're on a mission to disrupt the traditional way heating and cooling ha
Latest Features
Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.
Alex Lawrence, head of health & social care, techUK sets out techUK’s Five Point Plan for CareTech.
