Housing Minister Visits Salford

Housing Minister John Healey visited New Broughton in Salford today recently as it is the first North West scheme supported by the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) Kickstart funding programme to be fully signed off, with all legal agreements and contracts now exchanged.

New Broughton was officially approved for £8m of funding in October as part of the Kickstart Housing Delivery programme which targeted stalled sites, to support construction of high quality mixed-tenure housing developments. Since the confirmation, the HCA, Salford City Council and developer Countryside Properties have been working towards the final stages of the deal.

Deborah McLaughlin, North West Regional Director of the HCA, said: -The HCA recognises the potential of New Broughton coupled with the local demand for affordable, quality homes. All parties have rallied together to get builders back on site ensuring that a real difference is made to local communities.

Les Brown, Countryside Properties’ Regional Project Director said: -It is fantastic news that we have now cleared the final hurdle to draw down the additional funding. We have been particularly eager to complete the complex and lengthy legalities as quickly as possible with the HCA and our other partners – Contour Homes, Great Places and Salford City Council – so that we can get onto site and deliver the much needed affordable new homes for the area.

-It has been a challenging past few months for all parties concerned with a plethora of legal agreements to fulfil, however it is extremely satisfying that we are now back on site and new life is being breathed back into New Broughton.

Councillor Peter Connor, Salford City Council’s lead member for housing said: “We’ve worked with our partners and the HCA to beat the effects of the economic downturn and get New Broughton back up to speed.

“The government money is a much needed helping hand for the project which will be used to provide quality affordable homes for local people.

New Broughton in Lower Broughton is one of the country’s largest and most ambitious regeneration schemes, with 3,500 new homes planned, a new primary school, recreation and open space along with new retail and local facilities. Construction has now begun on the next phase of homes.