Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell has welcomed a win for Eastbourne with the Government set to release nearly £500,000 to help develop brownfield sites in the town.
Caroline spoke to Housing Minister Chris Pincher about money from the Brownfield Release Fund earlier this year to develop sites to help the town build homes.
The fund was announced today and £200,000 will be released for development at Cavalry Crescent to deliver 14 homes. Another £200k,000 is going to help develop Southfields Road car park with 19 homes and £70,000 is earmarked for Fort Lane to build seven homes.
“I am really pleased the Government has listened to my argument that Eastbourne needs a helping hand in developing these sites for homes on brownfield land that local people need,” said Caroline.
“I made the point to the Housing Secretary that brownfield first should be the strategy especially for Eastbourne because it has the sea as one border and the South Downs National Park at its other.
“We need more homes and more family homes in our town but that must be achieved in the most sustainable and sensitive ways and not come at the cost of vital green spaces.
"I understand the pressures we are under to deliver housing so this money recognises we need Government support and I am delighted it has been secured.
“It will make a difference and it means more homes built in a more sustainable way.”
Under an updated housing need formula brownfield sites and urban areas are prioritised for building family homes and the fund is part of that strategy.
Another part of the formula is to make the most of vacant buildings and underused land to protect green spaces.
