Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, gave a boost to the government’s starter homes initiative by launching a £26m fund for housebuilders to demonstrate a range of high quality homes that will be available for first-time buyers, on 10th August 2015.

These will pave the way for the first wave of starter homes and show aspiring young homeowners the different types of properties they can come to expect from the scheme.

The fund will support architects, developers, councils, housing associations and small builders to build properties that will increase the quality of design as the government delivers on its pledge to build 200,000 starter homes by 2020.

It will be used to acquire brownfield sites to provide land for starter homes. Money from the sales of these sites will go back to the government – securing good value for the taxpayer.

In a further move to support aspiring homeowners the government has also today made available up to £10m for local authorities to prepare more brownfield land for development of starter homes.

Communities Secretary, Greg Clark, said:

“As a one nation government we are on the side of hard-working people and that is why we are committed to delivering 200,000 starter homes by the end of this Parliament, providing a real boost to aspiring young first-time buyers.

“This competitive fund will build homes that will clearly show the wide range of new properties that will be available for first-time buyers as they take their first step on the housing ladder.

“We are also helping bring back into use more brownfield land for development, keeping the country building and delivering the homes our communities need.”