Wakefield Council partners with SME housebuilders to deliver 1,600 new homes target

Wakefield Council has launched a new initiative to help deliver more housing development across the district by offering greater support to smaller and medium-sized housebuilders.

‘Wakefield Builds’ aims to create stronger working relationships between developers and the Council in order to meet the district’s target of 1,600 new homes per year under the terms of the Local Development Framework.

The initiative will launch at a Builders’ Breakfast Briefing during Wakefield Business Week (next week) where developers will be able to meet with officers from the Council’s Strategic Housing, Planning and Business Support teams to discuss the issues affecting the sector.

The briefing will also see the launch of the ‘Wakefield Builds’ microsite within the Wakefield Council website. This includes information on the Community Infrastructure Levy, information on the Council’s pre-planning application service, support for those who are interested in custom or self-build, and information on how builders can access business support.

There are also sections which help developers find sites for sale across the district, and sites which have future potential for housing.

Cllr Denise Jeffery, cabinet member for economic growth and skills, said: “Wakefield Builds recognises the critical role that small and medium-sized housebuilders have in meeting our new homes target across the district.

“By providing that extra level of support we can help SME builders realise their ambitions, while meeting our goals of building more new homes and also boosting the district’s economy.”

Andrew Watson is the managing director of Castleford-based Strategic Team Group, which was founded in 2000 and has been delivering new build properties throughout the district for more than 10 years. Strategic Team Group now delivers more than 400 new homes on developments across Wakefield and the North of England.

Andrew said: “Wakefield Builds is an extremely positive move by the Council, it shows commitment to supporting developers to overcome the challenges and hurdles they face, in planning and new homes development.

“It also shows a positive and constructive approach to building relationships with developers to understand new legislation, which can only help more new homes to be built in the future.”

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