{"id":19491,"date":"2015-08-10T09:40:23","date_gmt":"2015-08-10T09:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=19491"},"modified":"2015-08-11T07:43:16","modified_gmt":"2015-08-11T07:43:16","slug":"26m-starter-home-boost-first-time-buyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/26m-starter-home-boost-first-time-buyers\/19491\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a326m starter home boost to first-time buyers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Communities Secretary launches \u00a326 million fund for housebuilders to demonstrate the range of high quality homes for first-time buyers…<\/span><\/h2>\n

Greg Clark has announced the government is to provide a boost to their\u00a0starter homes initiative<\/a><\/span>\u00a0by launching a \u00a326m fund for housebuilders to demonstrate a range of high quality homes that will be available for first-time buyers.<\/p>\n

It is hoped the fund will pave the way for the first wave of starter homes and show aspiring young homeowners the different types of properties they can come to expect from the scheme.<\/p>\n

The fund will support architects, developers, councils, housing associations and small builders to build properties that will increase the quality of design as the government delivers on its pledge to build 200,000 starter homes by 2020.<\/p>\n

It will be used to acquire brownfield sites to provide land for starter homes. Money from the sales of these sites will go back to the government \u2013 securing good value for the taxpayer.<\/p>\n

In a further move to support aspiring homeowners the government has also today made available up to \u00a310m for local authorities to prepare more brownfield land for development of starter homes.<\/p>\n

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said:\u00a0“As a one nation government we are on the side of hard-working people and that is why we are committed to delivering 200,000 starter homes by the end of this Parliament, providing a real boost to aspiring young first-time buyers.<\/p>\n

“This competitive fund will build homes that will clearly show the wide range of new properties that will be available for first-time buyers as they take their first step on the housing ladder.<\/p>\n

“We are also helping bring back into use more brownfield land for development, keeping the country building and delivering the homes our communities need.”<\/p>\n

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said:\u00a0“Helping young people achieve their dream of home ownership is a real priority for this government. We\u2019ve already helped more than 100,000 households buy a home through our ground-breaking Help to Buy scheme and starter homes are another game-changer.<\/p>\n

“This fund will help kick-start that change and show young people across the country the quality they can expect when they buy a starter home. It\u2019s further proof that this government\u2019s long-term economic plan is on track, supporting the aspirations of hard-working people everywhere.”<\/p>\n

Andy Rose, Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA<\/abbr>), said:\u00a0“The\u00a0HCA<\/abbr>\u00a0is ready to support the government in delivering this key priority, which aims to set the standard for starter homes. By using our land and development expertise, we will help even more first-time buyers into affordable home ownership.<\/p>\n

“We look forward to working with our key delivery partners including councils, developers, housing associations, small builders and architects in taking this forward, through the identification and purchase of land suitable for exemplar starter home sites.”<\/p>\n

Stephen Stone, Chief Executive at Crest Nicholson said:\u00a0“Initiatives which help support home ownership should be welcomed. Today\u2019s announcement will not only help first time buyers get onto the property ladder, but it will also accelerate further output across the industry at a time when housing need is at an all-time high.”<\/p>\n

Housebuilding is an important part of the government\u2019s long-term economic plan with almost 800,000 additional homes provided since the end of 2009.<\/p>\n

The government\u2019s new Housing Bill and proposed national planning policy changes will introduce a series of planning reforms that will ensure hundreds of thousands of starter homes will be built for aspiring young homeowners. These include:<\/p>\n