More than £2 billion paid to councils through New Homes Bonus scheme, figures show

Hopkins said that, since the introduction of the scheme, bonuses have been paid for the delivery of 550,000 newly built homes and conversions, including over 160,000 affordable homes and 93,000 empty homes which have been brought back into use. 

The New Homes Bonus scheme was introduced in April 2011 to encourage the building of new homes by paying a bonus to councils based on the amount of extra council tax revenue raised for new build homes, conversions and long-term empty homes being brought back into use.

"Councils have received over £2 billion for their part in getting Britain building, and leading to housing construction reaching its highest levels for seven years," said Hopkins in a statement. "And they are free to spend the money any way they like to benefit their local communities – whether that’s supporting frontline services, providing new facilities or freezing Council Tax".

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government Stephen Williams welcomed the figures. "The Government is doing everything possible to tackle the problem of empty homes and urban blight, and the New Homes Bonus is a shot in the arm for councils tackling the problem of abandoned homes and urban blight locally," he said.

"The number of long term empty homes has already fallen by 93,000 and we are now going further, giving councils the incentive to bring people, shops and jobs back to once abandoned areas, and to provide extra affordable homes we so badly need," Williams added.