Housing Project 'To Create 60,000 Jobs'

A major new housing development that could create up to 60 thousand new jobs has finally been approved after a decade of delays.

The project, at Ebbsfleet Valley in Kent, aims to build 22,600 homes but was held up by wrangling over transport links and other infrastructure problems.

It was confirmed last night that the Government, three councils and developers Land Securities had signed off the plans.

Land Securities, which has invested over £100m in the development, said the first 1,500 properties are earmarked for completion by 2020 at Eastern Quarry, with a further 3,000 homes due to be built by 2030/31.

The site covers 1,000 acres of land between Dartford and Gravesend which has stood idle while financial disputes over transport links and investment in community services were resolved.

They included contributions to two major road junction improvements.

It is understood the housing minister Grant Shapps intervened to push the project forward as part of the Government's bid to 'get Britain building'.

The UK's construction industry has been the biggest drag on economic growth in recent times.

In the second quarter of the year, construction output shrank by 3.9% compared to the same period last year.

Colette O'Shea of Land Securities said: “We are pleased that a way forward has been found to unlock the potential at Eastern Quarry.

We will now sit down with our housebuilding partners and press ahead to start delivering homes and jobs.”