Posted 11.04.16
The Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, has announced a programme of development of railway stations and surrounding land that aims to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs and significantly boost local growth.
A new agreement between Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency will see them working with local councils to trailblaze development opportunities across England's railway stations for housing and businesses.
The initiative could deliver up to 10,000 new properties on sites around stations in the coming years. Government wants to hear from at least 20 local authorities to take the scheme forward.
York, Taunton and Swindon councils have come forward with proposals to spearhead the new initiative and have identified railway sites that could be pooled to deliver housing and other locally-led regeneration.
Drawing on the example set by the transformation of Birmingham New Street, Manchester Victoria and London Kings Cross, government will bring together high-calibre technical expertise and local knowledge to increase development opportunities that exist throughout the entire rail estate.
The Homes and Communities Agency and Network Rail will now work with councils on the opportunities they see and any plans already in place to explore how government can support them to deliver locally-led regeneration and development schemes quickly.
