Spending cuts: HCA axes £230m and halts kickstart

Aaron Morby 15 years ago
Share

Hundreds of millions of pounds of funds allocated to house builders for new developments have been pulled or frozen by the Homes and Communities Agency.

The housing quango has revealed the full extent of the housing cuts as part of the Communities and Local Government departments’ £780m budget cuts for this year.

Chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake said that £100m will be chopped off the budget for low-cost home-ownership schemes and £50m from its kickstart programme. A further £50m is going from housing renewal programmes.

On top of the immediate cuts hundreds of million of pounds of future spending commitments remain on hold until the Government’s 50-day Budget on 22 June.

Housing developments that are most likely to suffer are those that are not yet contractually agreed. Galliford Try, Berkeley Homes, Persimmon and Keepmoat are among house builders hit hardest by the cuts.

Sir Bob said he would be contacting developers and local authorities affected by the cuts shortly.

The cuts are a bitter blow to house builders who are currently bidding for kickstart funding. Many bids for Kickstart are at an advanced stage, with £214m worth having gone through the due diligence process.

HBF chairman Stewart Baseley said: “Cutting Kickstart money, that creates immediate benefits in terms of local jobs and for the wider economy is a cut on investment not waste.

“Public money invested through Kickstart pulled in many more times that in private sector investment – which will now be lost to the economy.

“The announcement is extremely disappointing when we are in the midst of an acute housing crisis and a shortage approaching a million homes, yet building less than in any peacetime year since 1923.”

HBF is now seeking urgent clear guidance from HCA on exactly which sites the planned cuts will affect so that house builders can make decisions about labour, materials and contracts.

Housing market renewal programme allocations announced in December will be reduced, although the NAHP money had not been allocated.

A full list of Kickstart Round 2 schemes affected.

List of LANB schemes, where legal agreements were not concluded.

Latest news

Balfour Beatty terminates Danny Sullivan labour deals

Around 500 workers on HS2 will be moved to alternative agencies or be taken on direct
1 day ago

Trio face prosecution after Hinkley site death

Main contractors and client to face charges over death of site supervisor
1 day ago

Buyers see recovery in house building sector

But civil and commercial work still in the doldrums
2 days ago

Apprentice saws-off thumb on hotel refurb site

Court hears how digit was reattached and teenager continued training with another firm
2 days ago

Laing O’Rourke tops June contracts league

£919m animal super lab dominates new orders
2 days ago

TSL turnover smashes £500m as profit almost trebles

Data centre and logistics contractor rises high on surging demand
2 days ago

Gleeson Homes chief exec leaves business after restructure

Management revamp after "challenging" year
2 days ago

Green light for 1,600-home Oldham town centre overhaul

Plans for over 1,600 homes across six regeneration sites approved
2 days ago

DSM wins Norwich city centre clearance job

Anglia Square shopping centre clearance for £300m scheme
2 days ago

13-year-old becomes UK’s youngest qualified digger driver

Grandson of Gallagher Group chairman sets industry record
2 days ago

Cubby reborn in £12m Svella-backed takeover

£50m revenue target set as 14 firms combine under new Cubby Group banner
3 days ago

North East NHS trusts plot £3bn health estate overhaul

Market engagement begins for major construction push across four trusts
3 days ago

HG goes green on cranes in £1.2m switch to battery power

Diesel-free crane drive cuts fuel bills by 94%
3 days ago

Developer fined £165,000 for fire safety failings

Firm ignored fire safety orders on apartment job in Preston
3 days ago

Bidding to start for £1.8bn North West framework

Contractors invited to bid for latest Procure Partnerships deal
3 days ago

Hill hits record £90m profit as homes pipeline swells

Build-to-rent push and £4.8bn contracting book to fuel next growth phase
4 days ago

Rayner unveils £39bn plan to build 300,000 social homes

Council building revival and rent reform feature in social and affordable homes plan
4 days ago

Keltbray bounces back with £3.2m profit

Tighter controls and smarter project selection fuel strong turnaround
4 days ago

VINCI JV wins 500-home twin town centre revamps

Chester Northgate phase 2 and Northwich Weaver Square schemes move to delivery stage
4 days ago

80 energy projects unlocked as Ofgem backs grid expansion

£24bn energy networks deal gets green light from regulator
5 days ago

How to see your stories on the Enquirer

Join our Suppliers and Buyers directory to get your news published
4 days ago

Henley lands Midland Mill revamp on Leeds tower scheme

Restoration of 18th-century mill kicks off on South Bank regeneration project
4 days ago

New boss at Eric Wright Civil Engineering

Gavin Hulme takes top job as Diane Bourne moves to group role
4 days ago

Pinewood submits £1bn data centre plan

Studio giant adds green and learning spaces to tech hub blueprint
5 days ago

Record results after TClarke goes private

Britain's biggest M&E contractor flourishes after de-listing
5 days ago

Dalkia lands £200m nuclear maintenance deal

1,000 nuclear FM staff to join M&E contractor
5 days ago

Construction comeback to outpace wider economy

Arcadis forecast fueled by spending review optimism
6 days ago

First steel goes up on giant car battery site

Severfield gets to work on McAlpine Somerset site
6 days ago

Permasteelisa wins cladding deal on Bovis city tower

Facade specialist lands package at 60 Gracechurch Street
5 days ago

Fox buys recycled asphalt specialist Fisher

Acquisition adds major recycled asphalt capacity in north west
6 days ago