£41m to unlock derelict Midlands land for housing

A further £41 million has been secured by the West Midlands Combined Authority from the government to help unlock hundreds of acres of former industrial land for much-needed new homes.

The money will assist in accelerating an already 30 per cent increase in house building across the region with numbers rising from 11,288 in 2014/15 to 14,628 in 2017/18. Figures for 2018/19 are released in the autumn and expected to show a further increase.

The majority of these new homes are being built on derelict industrial sites, often referred to as brownfield land, helping to relieve pressure on the Green Belt. The West Midlands needs to build 215,000 new homes by 2031 to meet its future housing and economic needs and the WMCA is working to ensure the vast majority of these are on brownfield.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our region is leading a house building revolution in the UK, turning derelict land into vibrant, new communities. This latest £41 million funding from government will enable us to continue to buy and clean-up derelict sites that would otherwise lie vacant. We can then sell the sites on, or develop them in partnership with house builders, making sure the new homes are affordable, well-designed and energy efficient.”