Mid Suffolk District Council has been rewarded for adopting the first Core Strategy in the County, deciding planning application decisions within specified time targets and delivering new houses with a grant of just over £1million from the Government’s Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG).

The Government has announced the latest round of housing and planning delivery grant awards, under which 375 councils will share £135m.  The grant rewards Local Authorities who show they are leading the way in the delivery of housing supply and maximizing the supply of building land in their areas.

Nick Gowrley, Corporate Director at Mid Suffolk District Council said: “I am really pleased that we have received such fantastic news. We have received such an impressive grant because of the hard work and dedication of officers within the Council, and also the support from our Members. The process this time was completely new following changes made by the Government last year and we have worked hard to ensure that we got the best possible outcome for the District.”

Mid Suffolk District Council has been rewarded for successfully identifying at least 5 years' worth of sites ready for housing, meeting the housing targets set by the Government and deciding planning applications within national targets. In addition, the Council was substantially rewarded for adopting one of its Local Development Framework Documents (LDF), the Core Strategy, in September 2008.  

Tim Passmore, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council said: “This has been an extremely long winded process, but it is fantastic to have such brilliant news at last. Credit is due to officers from across the Council who have worked extremely hard to meet deadlines and deliver the material that was asked of us by the CLG. Although the process has been time consuming, it has been a very productive one that Mid Suffolk will benefit from. This is particularly helpful bearing in mind the terrible rate support grant settlement we have received from the Government, just 0.5%."

-ENDS-

Media contact: Vicky Smy, Senior Communications Officer, telephone: 01449 724850, email: vicky.smy@midsuffolk.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

Councils were awarded with the following:

The Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) was established in 2007 to reward local authorities for improved delivery of housing and other planning outcomes as part of their role to provide more support to communities and local councils who are actively seeking to deliver new homes.