John Denham has welcomed an announcement by Planning Minister Yvette Cooper that councils and communities that back new homes will get extra help with infrastructure. 

Ms Cooper set out the allocation of £732 million to local councils in the Growth Areas and Growth Points for services like transport, schools, health centres and parks.  The share for councils in the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) is £7.5 million. This investment will help local authorities fund community facilities and services to back the construction of three million new homes by 2020. The money, which will be available over the next three years, will benefit over 68 towns and cities across England which have already volunteered for housing growth as existing growth areas or growth points.  The new funding will, for the first time, give local authorities greater flexibility in deciding where money is needed most, without needing to bid to the Government to fund specific projects. The money will complement mainstream funding for transport, education and health services.  

John Denham said “Councils and communities that are doing their bit to deliver more homes deserve this extra cash. They need extra funding for infrastructure as well as for local services – we need to invest in communities, not just in bricks and mortar. That means parks and play areas, as well as transport and public services.”  

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Note to editors: PUSH is a partnership of the following councils: Southampton City Council, East Hampshire DC, Eastleigh BC, Fareham BC, Gosport BC, Hampshire County Council, Havant BC, New Forest DC, Portsmouth City Council, Test Valley BC, Winchester DC