Kent council is holding an enquiry to work out how much money it will demand from the government to pay for the infrastructure needed to deliver the Communities Plan.
The county includes Ashford and part of the Thames Gateway – two of the four key housing growth areas. These areas are earmarked for around 100,000 extra homes in total.

Interviewed in Housing Today this week, Kent council leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said he was "adamant" that the new housing must be backed up by infrastructure funds.

He has asked strategic planning director Peter Raine to add up how much is required from the Treasury to finance schools, transport links and hospitals to stop the new communities turning into "dormitory towns".

Bruce-Lockhart said: "We want the government to be absolutely clear that before any of the new housing can start, the council will need cast-iron guarantees of substantial new infrastructure funding across Kent. This must include commitments across government departments, backed by the Treasury, for all the funding for facilities of the very highest quality."

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister refused to speculate on the consequences of the council's report.

He said: "The ODPM has been in touch with various government departments on the issue of community funding. We hope the resources will be there, but as yet the Treasury has not allocated any money."

Raine is to report back in early April.

Source

Housing Today