Council secures multi-million funding to build council homes
An Eastbourne Borough Council bid for funding to transform the old pumping station site in Bedfordwell Road into council homes has been approved.
The Victorian Pump House is a familiar landmark for train passengers using Eastbourne Railway Station and the entire site has been earmarked by the council for development for some time.
Councillor Peter Diplock, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
"In Eastbourne our ambition for new homes is restricted by the sea, the downland, the Pevensey Levels and a close border with Wealden District Council.
"The Bedfordwell Depot is a classic brownfield site that could undoubtedly accommodate much needed affordable homes, but like most sites of this nature it is complicated and therefore costly to redevelop."
In addition to further discussions with Homes England, the next key objective is confirmation of a Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) bid of £2.2m. This is not expected to be announced until later this year and it is only when all the conditions are met that the funding from Homes England will be allocated.
Councillor Stephen Holt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said:
"Securing this funding from the Affordable Homes Programme is a great first step and I hope that it will provide the momentum needed to get all the other pieces of the jigsaw in place.
"If I had my way, we would already have all the money needed now to build the homes local people need, instead of having to jump through yet more hoops, but it's a process we are used to and we will do our very best to secure the final element required."
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