Homes England and West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) have today signed a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) in support of delivering locally-led housing and regeneration ambitions in the region.
The partnership, announced today at UKREiiF, a national investment conference, signals a long-term commitment to deliver locally-led goals and unlocks new opportunities for investment and delivery across the Mayoral Combined Authority region. Homes England and the MCA will work on a shared plan to accelerate growth in the West of England while advancing their existing partnership projects, like Bristol Temple Quarter, with a renewed focus.
Bristol Temple Quarter is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects, centred around a revitalised Bristol Temple Meads station, a grade I listed building. The ambitious programme aims to deliver 10,000 new homes, 22,000 new jobs, and improved sustainable infrastructure and public spaces across 135 hectares of brownfield land in central Bristol. It’s already an example of a project that thrives through public sector partnerships: jointly led by Bristol City Council, Homes England, the MCA, and chair Lyn Garner, the development is backed by £95 million of government support.
During the last financial year, Homes England provided £700,000 of funding support to schemes across the MCA and its constituent authorities, with future funding for new projects planned following the announcement of the Strategic Place Partnership.
Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:
Our new Strategic Place Partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority demonstrates our long-term commitment to the region. We’ll work side-by-side with the Mayoral Combined Authority through our strengthened partnership to deliver ambitious housing and regeneration programmes that speak to regional priorities.
The Agency now has eight Strategic Place Partnerships with various Mayoral Authorities across England, with each partnership clearly focused on the goal of empowering local leaders to drive growth in their own communities, supported by Homes England.
Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, said:
Across the West of England, we must invest to tackle the housing crisis and regenerate brownfield land. This new Strategic Place Partnership will ultimately help us build more affordable homes for local people.
Working with Homes England and local council leaders to deliver the right homes in the right places, with the services and infrastructure that people need and deserve.
I am determined to improve our transport links to help get the West of England moving – whether it’s better buses or five new train stations in three years – and connect new homes to jobs and opportunities, culture and leisure, and nature.
Alongside Bristol Temple Quarter, Homes England and the MCA will accelerate delivery on key projects including the West Innovation Arc, with South Gloucestershire Council. The Arc will be integral to the emerging West of England Local Growth Plan.
Working alongside Bath & North East Somerset Council, Homes England and the MCA are already supporting the acquisition of strategic land and planning work to unlock up to 6,000 new homes along the Bristol to Bath strategic growth corridor. Following £8 million of initial investment from the MCA, Homes England has committed £36 million into brownfield sites in central Bath to deliver a further 1,000 homes.
Notes to editors:
- The strengthened relationship between Homes England and the Mayoral Combined Authority follows the publication of the government’s English Devolution White Paper in December 2024, which details the plan to empower local leaders and deepen devolution across England.
- The white paper highlights Homes England’s work on SPPs and the important part they play in devolution.
About Homes England
We are the government’s housing and regeneration Agency, and we’re here to drive the creation of more affordable, quality homes and thriving places so that everyone has a place to live and grow.
We make this happen by working in partnership with thousands of organisations of all sizes, using our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more quality homes built.
Learn more about us: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england/about
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