A development of 123 new affordable homes in Boston will be officially opened next week thanks to Growth Deal funding provided by the Government and secured through the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The houses on Broadfield Lane in Boston were built by employee-owned Lincolnshire construction company Lindum for the Waterloo Housing Group and will be officially opened at a ceremony on Monday 3^rd July 2017.

As part of its £4.2m Unlocking Rural Housing Programme funded by the government through the Growth Deal, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP provided £750,000 to facilitate delivery of 75 of the homes on the site.

The money was used to meet the additional costs of flood mitigation requirements on the site.

“We funded this scheme because we recognise the importance of housing to the local economy and the contribution which housing makes to growth,” said David Dexter, Deputy Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“Despite clear evidence that additional housing is needed, developers in Greater Lincolnshire have been unable to access sufficient funding to meet the additional costs of overcoming flood risk.

“That’s why, in our very first Growth Deal which we negotiated with the government in 2014, we developed our £4.2m Unlocking Rural Housing Programme.

“Working alongside the Homes and Communities Agency, Boston Borough Council and local partners, our programme provides part of the funding mix which enables those sites to be developed. It will be a great pleasure to see these homes completed.”

David Dexter will be attending the official opening at 11am on Monday 3rd July 2017 along with representatives from the LEP, Anthony Riley (Group Director of Development and Operations at Waterloo Housing Group), Councillor Michael Cooper (Leader of Boston Borough Council), and Simon Gregory (Managing Director of Lindum Group).

Anthony Riley, Waterloo Housing Group Director of Development and Operations, said: “We are delighted to have worked with the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Boston Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency to fund this significant new development of affordable rented and shared ownership homes in Boston, which were built by our trusted partner Lindum.

“This development at Broadfield Lane was the largest scheme to complete in 2016/17 for Waterloo Housing Group, which completed in total over 1,000 new homes in the year across the Midlands and Lincolnshire.”

Simon Gregory, MD of Lindum Construction, said “As a local construction company we support the use of local contractors and suppliers and are proud to be a part of the team responsible for creating these much needed affordable properties and hope the residents enjoy living in their quality new homes.”

Eight other housing schemes have benefited from the LEP’s Unlocking Rural Housing Programme in Boston and East Lindsey.

To date the LEP has negotiated Growth Deal funding for Greater Lincolnshire worth £155 million.

Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the opening ceremony, where a plaque will be dedicated. Please report to the entrance to the site on Bunting Road off Broadfield Lane, Boston by 11am.

To confirm your attendance please call Jez at Shooting Star on 01522 528540 or email jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Unlocking Rural Housing Programme
The Unlocking Rural Housing Programme is supporting nine schemes in total:
o Broadfield Lane, Boston
o Church Road, Old Leake
o Meadow Way, Old Leake
o Riverside, Boston
o 41, Scarborough Avenue, Skegness
o Saxon Fields, Skegness
o The Quadrant, Boston
o Tytton Lane East, Boston
o Woodthorpe Avenue / Toot Lane, Boston

About the Local Growth Fund

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone. That’s why by 2021 the government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders. Analysis has shown that every £1 of Local Growth Fund invested could generate £4.81 in benefits.
Some additional key facts:
• There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England
• The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
• LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects informed by detailed analysis of the most pressing needs in each of their areas, including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.

About the Midlands Engine 
Some additional key facts:
• The Government is committed to making the Midlands an Engine for Growth in the UK, increasing economic growth and improving the quality of life for everyone. The Midlands is home to over 10 million people and over 780,000 businesses. Its economy is worth £217.7 billion.
• So far the Government has awarded £1.9 billion in three rounds of Growth Deals across the Midlands.
• Eight Enterprise Zones have been established in the Midlands Engine since 2012, and three zones have been extended. By March 2016 these had attracted almost £1 billion of private investment and created 85 new businesses and 7,291 jobs.

About the Greater Lincolnshire LEP
• The Greater Lincolnshire LEP was set up in 2010 and works with businesses and local authorities to develop and grow Greater Lincolnshire’s diverse economy.• It is a public / private partnership led by the private sector.
• It works with central government and the private sector to invest in infrastructure, skills, innovation and productivity.
• More than 100 businesses are involved in its strategies, and 80 business people sit on its boards.
• The LEP has an ambitious and balanced strategic economic growth plan for Greater Lincolnshire.
• The LEP’s six priority sectors are agrifood, the visitor economy, manufacturing, logistics, health and care and low-carbon energy.
• The LEP has invested £307 million in local economic growth schemes in Greater Lincolnshire since 2014.
• The Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers an area including North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire and is led by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.
• To find out more visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk or follow the LEP on Twitter: @greaterlincslep.
• To find out more about Lindum Group visit www.lindumgroup.com.
• To find out more about Waterloo Housing Group visit: www.waterloo.org.uk.

For media information contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star
01522 528540 / 07780 735071
@jezashberry
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
[LEP148broadfield]