Builders are welcoming the announcement that funding of £13 million has been given to local authorities to improve parks and green spaces. It has been well received as a positive step for the housing market as open spaces encourage development.

The announcement has come from Housing and Communities Secretary James Brokenshire and states that £9.7 million is to be made available for day to day maintenance and the creation of new spaces. A further £2.75 million is confirmed for the Pocket parks plus programme.

£1.2 million will be invested in the National Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Future Parks Accelerator initiative, a partnership that supports local authorities to test new and innovative approaches to managing and funding parks. This aims to ensure the benefits of public parks and green spaces are enjoyed by future generations.

Reception

The new funding has been met with open arms from the National Federation of Builders (NFB) who has said this will have a positive impact and attract home buyers and movers.

NFB Chief Executive, Richard Beresford said: “New and well maintained open spaces can encourage development by reassuring local people that new homes do not mean a loss of quality green and open space. Strategic green spaces are at the heart of our communities and we welcome every effort to make sure they remain there”.

Government comment

Brokenshire has stated that the Government is committed to creating great places to live and work and ensure communities can enjoy the benefits parks and green spaces bring to local life. He said: “Our parks and green spaces are huge assets to our towns and cities, offering precious spaces for all of us to get together, to exercise and to play. This latest funding will support bold proposals to help renovate and restore existing parks and create new vibrant, safe green spaces for our communities.”

“The future of our nation’s parks is an issue close to all our hearts and we will do all we can to preserve these vital green lungs that breathe life into our communities”.

He added that the funding builds on action the Government has already taken to encourage more people to make better use of parks including creating the £1 million pocket parks fund to help communities transform neglected and derelict spaces and establish over 80 new green spaces in urban areas across the country.

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