Housing minister John Healey has today announced £83m to help get 5,700 new and affordable home developments off the ground.

The government says the cash, which is being loaned to developers around the UK, will get struggling housebuilders back in work and safeguard over 1,700 jobs.

It says developers receiving cash have committed to get workers back on site by this time next year, with almost a quarter saying they’ll have workers back on site by the end of the month.

Before receiving the money, developers had to pass assessments processed by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to prove that taxpayers are getting value for money.

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