Housing minister reveals first 10 Kickstart schemes

Housing minister John Healey has named the first 10 stalled developments that will receive the government’s Kickstart cash, adding that the winners of these funds would be obliged to employ apprentices and local people.

The 10 housing schemes will receive £10m in total to complete 740 homes from the £925m overall budget. having cleared a detailed assessment by the Homes and Communities Agency and met the government’s investment terms.

Healey said that the use of apprentices on schemes was key to obtaining Kickstart cash and that developers applying for government funding would have to set out plans to offer apprenticeships and jobs to local people.

Nine out of the 10 developers who received Kickstart cash had established apprenticeship schemes, he added.

Healey also launched the next phase of the Kickstart programme

The projects getting the green light today are:

1. The Pippens, Rugeley, Staffordshire, West Midlands

The Pippens site, close to Lea Hall colliery, will enhance the last decade of regeneration work in the area. £507,188 Kickstart funding will create a total of 52 homes including 21 HomeBuy Direct houses and 14 Low Cost Homes, starting work in November this year. The developer, Persimmon Homes, provides an apprenticeship scheme.

2. Mitchells Brook, Sandwell, West Midlands

The £120,563 Mitchells Brook project will regenerate the former Cape Hill Brewery. Persimmon Homes is creating a 52-home development that will deliver five HomeBuy Direct properties and three social rent homes, starting November 2009. Persimmon will also run an apprentice/local labour scheme as part of this project.

3. Foxwalk, Sandwell, West Midlands

The £139,098 Fox Walk development in Cradley Heath will provide 10 HomeBuy Direct, seven social rent and eight affordable homes as part of a 61 home development starting in October. Barratt Developments will create apprenticeships and/or have or a local labour scheme on this site.

4. Attwood Green, Birmingham, West Midlands

Attwood Green is a major redevelopment in walking distance of the Birmingham City Centre. The £412,395 Kickstart funding will help create 50 homes, including 14 under HomeBuy Direct starting on site in November. Persimmon Homes has stated its intention to create apprenticeships or have a local labour scheme on this site.

5. Westpoint, Portishead, South-west

The Westpoint scheme will help to regenerate the Portishead dockside. £246,000 Kickstart funding will help provide 96 homes in the area, including 17 HomeBuy Direct homes, starting in November this year. Barratt Developments will create apprenticeships or have a local labour scheme on this site.

6. Steeple Chase, Redcar, north-east England

The Steeple Chase site in Redcar will help to address the slow housing market in the area. £4,566,030 Kickstart funding will provide 141 homes - 90 social rented and 12 HomeBuy Direct homes, as well as 39 open market homes. 12 apartments in the Coast and Country Housing Association development will be constructed as shelters for women fleeing violence for local charity EVA. The Coast and Country Housing Association is looking to create employment opportunities, including apprenticeships, through a local labour scheme.

7. Repton Park, Ashford, South-east

A former army barracks, the £631,200 Repton Park project will help deliver 56 homes. This will include 31 HomeBuy Direct houses, 10 open market sale homes, four social rented homes and 11 low-cost homes, starting on site at the beginning of 2010. Persimmon Homes will also create apprenticeships or have a local labour scheme on this site.

8. Roebuck Park, Hellingley, South-east

Renovating the former Hellingley Hospital site, the completed Roebuck Park will provide a total of 400 homes within historic buildings and surrounded by a local country park, sports facilities and community centre. £752,850 Kickstart funding will help deliver 64 homes, including 28 HomeBuy Direct, 18 open market, 14 social rented and four low-cost homes, starting on site in November this year. Persimmon Homes will create apprenticeships or have a local labour scheme on this site.

9. Fieldways, Poulton, South-west

The £242,250 Fieldways scheme in Poulton will bring forward a total of 110 homes, including 10 HomeBuy Direct homes, starting on site in November this year. Barratt Developments will create apprenticeships or have local labour scheme on this site.

10. Gilead Street, Liverpool

Gilead Street is statistically one of the poorest areas of Liverpool, and considered one of the most deprived districts in the United Kingdom. £2,654,500 Kickstart funding will help provide 58 homes, including four social houses and 25 low-cost homes, and help restart the development of vacant buildings in the area. RSL Riverside run an apprenticeship programme on this site.