Regeneration
Walsall business owners urge local social landlords to apply for skills fund
Published on
Social landlords and housing developers active in Bloxwich are reminded to submit their applications for the Construction Skills Through Regeneration fund by Monday 7 August.
The Town Deal Board, made up of local business owners, is urging social landlords and developers active in Bloxwich, Walsall to capitalise on the available grant funding, which aims to increase employment opportunities for local people.
“ This is a great opportunity for local registered social landlords and I hope to see lots of expressions of interest. We want to make sure that local businesses and people are the first to benefit from inward investment into the Borough and this fund will help us to create opportunities in the construction industry locally “
“ Walsall has attracted a huge amount of inward investment and I have been working closely with Board colleagues and officers from Walsall Council to ensure that the investment puts local people and businesses first.
We know that the construction industry is facing a skills shortage and with millions of pounds being invested in the Borough, it’s only right that local businesses are first in line to benefit from it. This is an exciting opportunity for registered social landlords active in Bloxwich to capitalise on Walsall’s ongoing transformation by employing local people and delivering on Walsall’s housing targets
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Walsall Council is offering grants that aim to plug viability gaps, so that Registered Social Landlords can construct new housing on derelict sites and complete essential improvements to existing properties. The fund will enable local developers to employ local people, ensuring investment into the Borough benefits local people and businesses first.
This new initiative, funded through the Government’s Town Deal programme, aims to increase the availability of affordable housing and support the local economy by linking into local purchasing, training and employment initiatives.
Funding can be applied for via the council’s online portal. Applicants will be able to view and complete Expressions of Interest for their proposals and successful applicants will then be supported to progress these applications. The deadline for expressions of interest is Monday 7 August.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Walsall is a Borough undergoing real transformation, creating a wealth of opportunity. There is a shared ambition to deliver well connected, attractive places where people are proud to live and work and where businesses want to locate; where there is a strong mix of housing for all our residents, where our communities are well served and all of our residents have the best life chances.
To fulfil this potential, more than £500 million of investment has been attracted and schemes are either under construction right now or have planning consent confirmed.
The overall Construction Skills programme outcome targets are as follows:
- Deliver 51 new housing units
- 205 Improved/refurbished residential units
- Deliver 41 additional green retrofits to existing homes
- Support 75 learners and 31 apprenticeships
Developers interested in applying for the fund can find more information on the Council website.
