Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, has welcomed Government funding to build more affordable homes in Dacorum as part of an action plan to boost housebuilding. Through the New Homes Bonus, Dacorum Borough Council has received £881,000 this year to build much-needed homes in the local area.

The New Homes Bonus is a multi-billion pound programme that rewards communities when they accept more house building in their area, with extra reward for building new affordable homes, and for getting long-term empty homes back into use.

Building on the flagship Housing Strategy, the Government has unveiled a range of measures to:

• help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder through lower deposit requirements;
• hand over disused public land for 100,000 new homes; and
• end a long-standing ‘tax on tenants’ in a £19 billion deal enabling councils to keep the rents they collect and invest the money in homes.

Mike Penning said:

“I am delighted to welcome this funding for new homes in Dacorum.The Government’s actions will help local people onto the housing ladder, provide more affordable housing and create local jobs”.