Homes England deal boosts East Midlands plan
A new Homes England partnership will boost plans to build up to 100,000 homes across the East Midlands over the next decade, the combined authority says.
The UK government’s housing and regeneration agency has signed a “strategic place partnership” with the East Midlands combined authority, which it says will enable greater collaboration on large regeneration projects in the region.
The agreement is the tenth of its kind signed by Homes England with local authorities across the country, which it says prioritises places with ambitious proposals for growth and regeneration by “unlocking housing delivery and regeneration at scale”.
The agency owns around 22,500 acres of land across the country, and uses government-backed loans, grants, and guarantees in order to speed up house-building.
According to statistics provided by Homes England’s latest annual report issued in January, the agency’s efforts enabled the completion of more than 32,300 homes, and helped start construction on an additional 35,600 homes, in the last year.
“This new partnership marks an important moment for the East Midlands. By working hand in hand with Homes England, we are ensuring that our ambition to deliver 100,000 new homes is based on a solid foundation,” said East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward.
“Building these homes is one of the most important ways that our investments will benefit local people. It is how we will deliver , which is at the heart of my mission as Mayor. That means building more homes and creating stronger, more connected communities with the jobs, infrastructure, and regeneration our local people deserve.
“Our partnership with Homes England is a long-term investment in our future. Together, we are building an East Midlands that is vibrant, fair, and forward-looking – a place we can all be proud to call home.”
Homes England says the deal will help to speed up large regeneration projects such as the 1,000-home Broad Marsh scheme in Nottingham, which launched a consultation on fresh regeneration proposals last month.
The agency bought up the city centre site in March this year to pave the way for long-term redevelopment efforts, which have floundered since the closure of the former shopping centre on the site in 2020.
Amy Rees CB, Chief Executive of Homes England, added: “Our 10th Strategic Place Partnership represents a significant milestone in the way we work with Mayoral Strategic Authorities across England. By formalising our partnership with EMCCA, we are creating a powerful framework that will unlock the region’s potential for sustainable growth.
“Projects like Broad Marsh demonstrate what is possible when local knowledge meets national resources, and this SPP will enable us to replicate that success across the East Midlands, delivering the homes and regeneration that the community deserves.”
