The 2008-09 Housing and Planning Delivery Grant will for the first time provide additional direct funding top up for councils to ensure that new homes are built where families need them.

Properly identifying land for homes will help hard working families and give the house building industry greater certainty around development proposals.
 
Margaret Beckett said:
"The allocation of £101m will go a long way to ensuring councils and builders are ready to take advantage when the upturn in the economy comes."
 
In order to be eligible councils must show progress on:
* continuing to provide suitable land for development over future years, particularly as the housing market recovers from current economic challenges
* providing the local plans necessary to deliver the needed homes
* carrying out a strategic assessment of their housing market