BROMSGROVE District Council has announced a breakthrough in its plans to build affordable housing on the site of its old home in Burcot Lane, which has lain empty for the last two-and-a-half years.

The council has teamed up with Homes England to carry out its plans, as part of its commitment to provide cheaper houses across the district.

The amount of funding from Home England's new Local Authority Accelerated Construction Programme, which allows councils to accelerate construction on sites they own, is set to be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Council leader Cllr Geoff Denaro said: "The Burcot Lane funding is a key breakthrough in providing housing for the town, and enables us to begin accelerated development of the site using modern methods of construction.

"There is more work to be done but a bright future ahead."

Bromsgrove Advertiser:

In June, Cllr Denaro announced the council's plans to form its own housing company to allow greater flexibility when it comes to developing a housing portfolio, and potentially generate revenue further down the line.

He added: "When I first became leader of the district, I was handed a report which effectively told me that Bromsgrove would become a dormitory town with very few jobs, investment or young residents, unless we as a council took action to change its future.

"I decided then and there that I would do everything I could to secure a future for our district. This is a key step on the way."

Cllr Karen May, portfolio holder for economic development, said: "We need to re-balance the housing market.

"People are growing up in Bromsgrove knowing that they cannot afford a home here, and that needs to stop."

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Advertiser in January revealed that the council was still paying thousands of pounds each year to retain the empty Burcot Lane building, despite moving from the site to Parkside in November 2015.