PLANS for a new housing development in Kidderminster have been given a £2.7million Government funding boost.

Wyre Forest District Council was given the money from the Housing Infrastructure Home for the Churchfields Urban Village Highway Infrastructure scheme.

The authority is set to partner Worcestershire County Council on the project which looks to create a new urban village with 300 new homes alongside a range of highways improvements to support the development.

These include enhancing the A456 roundabout at Blackwell Street, a new T-junction providing access to Churchfields and the creation of a new link road from the A456 to the urban village.

News of the funding boost was welcomed by council chiefs and Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier.

Councillor Ian Hardiman, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the district council’s hard work with its partners has paid off and led to Government funding for a much needed piece of highway infrastructure which will help unlock the site and enable this important housing development to go forward.

“It is right that we should see brownfield sites such as Churchfields developed first. It will also bring about the urban village that the council first conceived in 2011 and it will be exciting to see it moving forward to completion.”

Councillor Chris Rogers, Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Wellbeing added: “This important piece of infrastructure will enable the development of 300 new dwellings in a sustainable location close to the town centre and will help meet local housing need.

“We expect there to be new affordable dwellings provided as part of the scheme, so this will make an important contribution to meeting the needs of people on lower incomes.

“Alleviating traffic on Blackwell Street will also improve the air quality of the area and benefit the quality of life of those already living in the area.”

And Mark Garnier said: “It’s great news that Churchfields, Kidderminster has been allocated £2.7 million, in addition to the £1million announced in the autumn of 2017 via the Worcestershire LEP, so we can help ensure we build the homes people need.”