Hitchin & Harpenden’s Bim Afolami MP has called on the District Councils covering his constituency to work with him to unlock the potential of brownfield sites which could deliver more than 1,800 homes according to research from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.
In a letter to Cllr Dennis-Harburg, Leader of North Herts Council, and Cllr White, Leader of St. Albans City & District Council, Mr Afolami set out how funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ recently announced £60m second round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund could be used to deliver new homes and jobs and re-generate run-down and disused brownfield sites.
Bim Afolami MP said,
“Residents have told me that they support the Government’s plan to prioritise brownfield development and I believe that we have a real opportunity to make the most of this funding opportunity to deliver new affordable housing for local people in sustainable locations. We should be looking to deliver on brownfield re-generation to bring this land back into productive use with new homes, jobs and amenity for residents.
“I hope that our local Councils will work with me to deliver on brownfield re-generation in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages. I look forward to their replies to my letter.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
The full text of Mr Afolami’s letter can be found below:
Dear Chris and Elizabeth,
Brownfield Re-Generation
I trust this letter is well received.
In recent correspondence with the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, it has been brought to my attention that brownfield sites capable of delivering more than 1,800 houses exist in Council areas covering Hitchin & Harpenden (783 in North Hertfordshire, 1,173 in St. Albans).
As you may be aware, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities last week announced that Councils will be able to bid for a share of £60m in the second round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund. This funding would enable us to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs across our area; while unlocking and re-generating brownfield sites in our towns and villages.
Residents have consistently told me that they support the Government’s plan to prioritise brownfield development and I believe that this funding – combined with the existence of a significant number of available brownfield sites locally – presents a real opportunity for us to work together to deliver new affordable housing for local people in sustainable locations.
I hope that you will agree with me that we should be looking to deliver on brownfield re-generation and I look forward to hearing from you about how we can make the most of this opportunity provided by the Government to deliver for residents in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages.
Kind regards,
Bim
