£165m fund launched to unblock stalled housing and job projects in England

A new £165 million fund has been launched to kickstart stalled housing and employment projects across England. The initiative forms part of a broader £27 billion plan to upgrade the country's major roads while boosting economic growth. The Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund will help unblock developments that have been delayed due to a lack of transport infrastructure. Local councils can now put forward sites for consideration, with priority given to those near motorways and A-roads.

Secretary of State Heidi Alexander explained that the fund would 'pave the way for developments that have sat idle for too long'. Meanwhile, National Highways Executive Director Elliot Shaw added that it would 'help unlock the transport links needed for new homes and jobs'. The fund is part of Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), a £27 billion programme running from 2026 to 2031. Alongside accelerating housing projects, RIS3 includes £8.4 billion for resurfacing and renewing over 9,000 kilometres of motorway and major A-road lanes. The wider strategy aims to maintain the existing network while removing infrastructure barriers to development. The government expects the initiative to support the delivery of 1.5 million new homes during this Parliament. No specific regions or cities have yet been named as applicants, as the application process has only just opened.

The fund will target sites where transport constraints have held back progress. If successful, it could enable thousands of new homes and jobs to move forward. The scheme also aligns with the government's broader goal of improving England's road network over the next five years.