<p>The Homes and Communities Agency has opened the bidding for the £420 million Get Britain Building Fund, launched to enable work to start on stalled sites with planning permission.</p> <p>The fund was announced last month as part of the government's housing strategy and is aimed at unlocking up to 16,000 new homes by December 2014.</p> <p>The programme is intended to address difficulties in accessing development finance for housebuilders and to help bring forward sites where viability is marginal.</p> <p>The HCA has produced detailed guidance on how to apply and those interested have until January 30 2012 to submit an expression of interest. Shortlisted projects will be invited to enter a due diligence phase with final decisions and contracts expected from May.</p> <p>To download the Prospectus go to <a href="http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/get-britain-building">www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/get-britain-building</a> </p>