THE LONG Marston Airfield Garden Village development has secured a £13.4million boost from the government.
Stratford District Council received the fourth largest grant awarded in the first hand outs from the government’s £5billion Housing Infrastructure Fund, which aims to help get much-needed homes built across the country as quickly as possible.
The Long Marston cash will be used to help clean-up the former Ministry of Defence and RAF base, improve surrounding roads, and connect a new mains gas supply to the site.
When completed the village will be home to some 3,500 homes. The first phase will see 400 homes built, with the rest following during the second phase.
Council housing spokesman Peter Richards thanked all those involved in the successful bid which was made late last year.
He added: “This is fantastic news.
“The team, comprising the executive director, head of infrastructure and transformation projects, policy manager and myself worked together on the bid and are thrilled to have successfully secured this additional money to progress Phase 1 of the Long Marston Airfield Garden Village development.”
A year ago the council and developers Cala Homes were successful in a bid to get Garden Village status for Long Marston. It will be one of 14 such villages across the country, after it saw off stiff competition from 51 other local authorites to win the bid, which included government funding.
The village will also include employment land of around 13 hectares – equal to some 16 football pitches – together with a village centre, community facilities, two primary schools and secondary schools.
There will also be some 77 hectares of community space – equivalent to 92 pitches – which will include a country park.
