He has published a shortlist of developments in areas including London, Manchester, Liverpool and Kirklees, which could benefit from a share of the £1 billion Build to Rent Fund to deliver homes specifically for private rent.
Up to 6,500 homes will be built using this additional funding and he said it means that the government is well on track to have work underway by 2015 to deliver up to 10,000 newly built homes for private rent.
The Build to Rent fund is designed to help developers build large scale, quality homes specifically for the private rented sector. By demonstrating the viability of the large scale market the government is laying the foundations for future private investment in the sector.
Through round one of the scheme, 18 projects are either in the final stage of due diligence or contracting stage, with around half of these projects in London but also in places including Durham, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Construction has also already started on two Build to Rent developments in Southampton and Manchester. The 36 projects on the latest shortlist from round two will also now go through this due diligence process, with successful bids receiving funding to deliver new homes.
They include over 500 homes in Manchester to be built by the Housing Capital Trust, over 100 homes in Liverpool by Stanley Dock Properties, 192 homes in Hammersmith and Fulham in London by Imperial West and also in London 350 in Brent, Greenwich and Redbridge by Development Securities.
Hopkins pointed out that around 80% of the projects listed are in London as this reflects the demand for good quality, private rented accommodation in the Capital.
‘The private rented sector offers a flexible option to millions of people looking to rent good quality homes. The Build to Rent fund will give tenants far more choice over where they live and raise the standard of the properties on offer,’ he said.
‘So I’m pleased that so many developers have applied for a share of our £1 billion fund, and that we are well on track to have work underway by 2015 on 10,000 new homes specifically for private rent,’ he added.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said that the private rented sector has a huge part to play in delivering new homes in London. ‘With a soaring population and unprecedented demand for new homes in the capital we have set the most ambitious targets in the GLA’s history to help provide the homes hard working Londoners need,’ he explained.
‘Boosting the supply of good quality well-designed homes to rent will lead to a more balanced rental market, improved services for tenants, and helps bring forward new development, while stimulating economic growth in the capital,’ he added.
According to Margaret Allen, interim executive director for programmes and recoverable investment at the Homes and Communities Agency said that the volume and quality of bids received for round two of the Build to Rent Programme is encouraging. ‘We are looking forward to working with our partners and the shortlisted bidders to take the submissions through the due diligence process and to support the delivery of the successful bids,’ she said.
The Build to Rent fund has been developed to support purpose built, private rented accommodation across England which have the potential to attract investors and is being administered by the Homes and Communities Agency, which is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England and the regulator of social housing providers.
The Greater London Authority is leading on the assessment of London bids. The bids listed will go through a competitive clarification process, which will include meeting with the Homes and Communities Agency, to refine project details before a final decision is made to progress to full due diligence.
