<p><span>The government has announced an extra £30 million for its Land Release Fund and One Public Estate programme to release surplus public sector land for new homes and boost local economies.</span></p> <p><span>Under the LRF – targeting small sites and SME housebuilders - local authorities can bid for a £20 million pot to provide remediation works and infrastructure, allowing their surplus sites to be brought forward for housing.</span></p> <p><span>Meanwhile, the OPE programme of £10 million will support “the earliest stages of development”, with new and existing partnerships invited to bid to deliver property programmes with central government and other public sector partners.</span></p> <p><span>The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the funding was now available for bids and allocated in the current financial year.</span></p> <p><span>It gave examples of the schemes the programmes have supported, including 73 council projects under the LRF “which are on track to release land for more than 6,000 homes by next March”. </span></p> <p><span>The OPE programme has supported the Burnholme development in York, delivering a health and wellbeing hub which also features new homes and education, health and worship spaces.</span></p> <p><span>The extra funding announcement follows the government’s recent pledge to invest £360 million in Mayoral …