Housing Infrastructure Funding and South Lancaster

 

Housing Infrastructure Funding is defined by the government as follows:

 

The Housing Infrastructure Fund is a government capital grant programme of up to £2.3 billion, which will help to deliver up to 100,000 new homes in England. Funding will be awarded to local authorities on a highly competitive basis, providing grant funding for new infrastructure that will unlock new homes in the areas of greatest housing demand. 

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Background for Lancaster

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In March 2018 Lancaster County Council announced a bid for £100m to the Housing Infrastructure Fund had moved to the next stage of co-development as follows:  

 

The HIF Forward Fund would support a range of transport infrastructure initiatives, including a bus rapid transit network and dedicated cycle route between South Lancaster and the city centre, along with other improvements to address flood and drainage risks.

 

Wider improvements would also include a re-configured Junction 33, enabling residents and businesses in South Lancaster to access the motorway network without needing to travel through either the city centre or Galgate.

 

The proposals are designed to support delivery of the Health Innovation Campus and the wider expansion plans of Lancaster University, as well as the Garden Village at Bailrigg.

 

This bid from the county council was made with support from Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

 

Follow link for full details

 

Points to think about 

1. This bid, which is referred to in the Local Plan Delivery schedule, makes no mention of 9,000+ houses. Bailrigg Garden Village was listed as 3,500 houses by 2031.

2. March 2020 Announcement in Budget of £140m for South Lancaster Growth Catalyst see link 

3. November 2020 Transforming Lancaster Travel makes following statement:

“The £140m is completely focused on the large strategic infrastructure part of the wider package so all £140m would fall into your category of 'road building'. The other categories would be funded by what the government term 'local contributions', such as from other public funding pots or from housing/commercial developers via the planning system. In the bid approximately £30m worth of public transport and active travel (cycling and walking) initiatives have been identified.”