Member Article

Leeds City Council awarded £11 million through Government New Homes Bonus

In the year to October 2013 Leeds City Council approved or brought back into use 2,200 new homes and received a financial bonus from the Government of nearly £11 million, placing it within the top 10 authorities in England.

Bradford and Sheffield followed suit with 1,500 and 1,100 new homes, receiving bonuses of £7.5m and £6m respectively.

Hamish Robertshaw, associate director of planning at DTZ, the global property advisor commented: “Alongside the Government’s pro-development policy stance, the New Homes Bonus is providing an incentive to Yorkshire’s local authorities to deliver much needed housing.

“However, new housebuilding remains a sensitive local and political issue.

“Developers should encourage planning authorities to spend bonus money on visible local community and infrastructure projects to benefit those close to development.

“With the Yorkshire cities all currently preparing Local Plan documents with substantial housing target numbers, opportunities will continue to increase for landowners and housebuilders over coming years.

“However, as this is unlikely to be an easy ride in the more affluent and politically vocal areas expect to see housing come forward in accessible, mid-market locations such as east Leeds, Castleford and Kirklees.”

Hamish Robertshaw, associate director of planning at DTZ

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .