Further £12m injected into social housing regime

A further £12million will be injected into social housing, Cannock Chase Council has confirmed.

The council announced the extra funding as part of the second phase of its social housing investment programme.

Phase one of the existing Housing Investment Fund programme, which costed £12.9million focused on building new social housing, has now well underway.

It includes the construction of new housing at the council 's former Hawks Green Depot, acquisition of a site at the former Aelfgar secondary school in Rugeley that closed in 2011 which has now been purchased subject to contract, and a planning application in progress for a Council owned site in Chadsmoor.

The additional £12 million of resources will see the commencement of a retrofit programme to the existing stock and the continuation of the council 's new build programme.

The allocation will allow the council to begin 'decarbonising' its housing stock as part of its Climate Change commitment.

Councillor George Adamson (pictured), leader of the council said: “This authority has waited a long time to see new social housing being built and the provision of a further £12 million to continue this programme, and commence making a start into achieving carbon neutrality, is most welcome.

“Tackling Climate Change is a key priority for the Council and so it is especially pleasing to address this and to create much needed additional housing as part of this concerted approach. ”