£100,000 approved by Combined Authority to help unblock community housing schemes in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

The Combined Authority board has approved a further £100,000 of funding to support community-led housing initiatives across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The funding will be used to support initiatives in which local people help solve housing problems by, for example, building new homes, returning empty homes to use or managing existing homes.

Community-led housing groups often run into early funding challenges, such as the costs of viability appraisals, addressing legal and planning issues, tackling site specific issues such as ground investigations, entering into arrangements for securing a legal interest in a site, conveyancing or preparation of partnership arrangements. The money will help projects to proceed.

Dr Nik Johnson, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “Community-led housing is an essential part of our commitment to providing affordable housing across our districts, and I’m delighted that the board unanimously agreed to this additional funding.

“By supporting our communities and their desire to build community assets, not only will we increase the overall supply of affordable homes, but we will also see an increase in empowered and engaged communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.”