Member Article

Big bonus for Warrington as government rewards affordable homes policy

Warrington is set to receive a cash bonus of almost £4 million from central government, as a reward for its work in increasing the supply of affordable homes.

The New Homes Bonus is a grant paid by government to local councils for increasing the number of homes and their use – and Warrington BC expects to receive close to £4 million for the financial year 2014/2015.

The council’s executive board member for environment, Cllr David Keane, said :“Warrington has earned this grant through the excellent work done by the council’s housing team in collaboration with our partner organisations.

“Warrington has reduced the number of long-term empty homes by 300 and has delivered 227 affordable homes.

“Our provisional allocation of just under £3.9 million is the fifth highest allocation in the North West.

“Only Manchester, Salford, Liverpool and Cheshire East are higher, and most of them have much larger populations than Warrington, so it’s clear we are punching above our weight.

“Warrington’s performance has meant our New Homes Bonus for next year is almost £1.3 million more than last year’s.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .