Infrastructure improvement schemes in Surrey and Cornwall will trigger residential developments, says minister
The government said more than 8,000 homes can be built following its decision to spend £142m on infrastructure projects in England.
New roads and a programme of bridge widening will enable 8,500 homes to be built in Woking, Surrey, and Truro in Cornwall.
Housing Minister Kit Malthouse said the spending, under the £5.5bn Housing Infrastructure Fund, was part of the government’s drive to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.
In Woking £95m will be spent on widening the Victoria Arch Bridge, as well as paying for road improvements, buying land and connecting utilities, unlocking sites to develop 4,500 new homes.
The government said the project, which is being delivered by Surrey county council, was expected to reduce congestion in the area, as well as opening up land for housing.
And in Truro £47m will be spent on a new northern access road, connecting sites from the A390 in the west to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in the east. The move will enable the building of 4,000 homes, Malthouse said.
The minister added: “We need to keep upping our game and build more, better, faster, if we are to meet our ambition to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.”
Money will be allocated to local authorities after a competitive funding allocation process.
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