Mansfield District Council is to set up its own housing development company in a bid to speed up house building.

The council-owned company will ensure some of the long-term vacant council-owned land in the district is developed to provide homes for sale and rent.

It will create local construction jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities and help the council achieve its priorities of regenerating the district and ensuring an adequate housing supply. It also has the potential to generate revenue to contribute towards the council’s budget deficit.

The decision was taken by the Executive Mayor of Mansfield, Tony Egginton, on Tuesday. Full Council is expected to approve the financial and governance arrangements and a business plan for the development of the first site – Brownlow Road – will be produced.

Over the next five to seven years, the company could build around 500 new homes at:
•Brownlow Road
•Former Mansfield General Hospital site
•Redruth Drive
•Bellamy Road
•Brick Kiln Lane