Over 700 affordable homes for the east of England

There are set to be more than 700 new affordable homes created in the east of England, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency, has announced.

The homes will be developed at 12 areas in the region as £7 million is to be invested, which could lead to an increase in the amount of housing jobs created.

Peterborough and Ipswich are two of the regions which should benefit from the new initiative.

It forms part of the announcement made by housing minister John Healey about a funding programme of £83 million allocated to 87 stalled property developments around England.

He said the government was investing the money to try to keep people in work and increase the amount of youngsters with apprenticeships, which could lead them to a career in planning.

This news comes after the HCA provided £3 million to ensure there are more affordable homes to supply care for the elderly.