Comment on government Housing Infrastructure Fund announcement

Leeds City Council has welcomed a government announcement that a bid for funding of up to £113million for city centre infrastructure investment to support new housing and public spaces has progressed to a shortlisting stage.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that Leeds is one of 44 national bids to the Housing Infrastructure Fund which has been approved to be shortlisted and go forward for further development and assessment.

The Leeds bid is focused on supporting the acceleration of schemes to provide 16,500 new city centre houses and apartments across 60 sites. It is part of the council’s broader ambition to double the size and economic impact of the city centre through major changes to the transport network, the development of the South Bank, the arrival of HS2 in a new integrated Leeds Station and over 20,000 new city centre homes in total.

Responding to the announcement Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said:

“This is a welcome positive announcement from the government that we are a step closer to securing this vital investment for Leeds to help us provide the new housing and infrastructure we need. Offering a wide range of housing choice and developing brownfield land especially in the city centre and the South Bank is a key part of our plan for the city, so we look forward to working with the government on the next stage of the bid process and ensuring we can invest and build where we need to in order to meet the needs of our city and support our communities to grow and prosper.”

The proposed funding is part of a wider bid for the Leeds City Region submitted through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. A final government decision is expected to be made in the autumn.

ENDS

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