£500m bid to beat housing shortage

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The money will be handed to local councils who produce plans to speed up delivery of new homes, identify suitable sites, and increase housing within set timescales.

It is thought the grants will be aimed at areas where there is a shortage of housing, such as in the South East.

The scheme is aimed at creating more homes for a mix of people, including young families and first-time buyers.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said the scheme was aimed at combating the increasing housing shortage and enabling more people to get on the housing ladder.

But the proposals have been criticised by the Local Government Association (LGA), which said the Government has ignored the needs of many councils.

LGA chairman Sir Simon Milton said: "Councils want to work with the Government to build the new homes that the country needs. It is disappointing that this announcement seems to be rewarding councils for playing a crude numbers game and ignores the needs of the majority of councils with housing challenges.

"A key issue is where the money goes as there will be many areas that this money does not cover which will have equally as pressing housing needs for local families.

"What is also now necessary is for funding for the roads, schools and hospitals needed to turn desolate dormitories into places where people can live and work."

Sir Simon said financial incentives for councils to identify potential housing sites would free up land, but it was important that densely populated areas were not penalised simply because they have less land available for development.