AREAS across Basingstoke and Deane that have seen a rise in development are set to benefit from a cash injection to build infrastructure after the Government announced a grant of nearly £4.7million.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will receive an estimated £4,691,340 from the Government as part of the New Homes Bonus scheme.

The scheme awards money to local authorities for a six-year period, allocating funds yearly, with the borough receiving the £4.7m cash boost for 2015-16.

For every new home built and occupied in Basingstoke and Deane, the Government gives the borough a New Home Bonus grant.

The borough council allocates the majority of the Government grant to delivering “larger ticket” facilities and infrastructure needed due to the housing increase.

Forty per cent of the money received is given to the Local Infrastructure Fund to provide community-led infrastructure, another 40 per cent is allocated to the Strategic Infrastruc-ture Fund to provide money for key infrastructure priorities, such as road improvements, and the final 20 per cent is allocated to support council services.

The cash injection is more than the borough council expected to receive – an extra £622,000 was awarded because a higher number of affordable homes were built last year in the borough.

The number of affordable homes provided across Basingstoke and Deane over the last year was 154 instead of the anticipated 91. This figure was boosted after the borough council ploughed money into helping Sentinel Housing Association purchase homes to be used for bed and breakfast accommodation, in addition to other homes purchased by housing associations.

Borough council leader Councillor Clive Sanders, said: “New Homes Bonus contributes towards infrastructure improvements, both across the borough and in local communities. But, it is only part of our plan for attracting external funding to invest in our successful future.

“This is just the latest vote of confidence in our vision for the future, and in the borough’s ability to deliver. Our masterplan for Basingstoke will drive economic growth in the town so that it continues to be one of the major economic centres in the Enterprise M3 area over the next 20 years and beyond.”

Reacting to the grant, Basingstoke MP Maria Miller said: “I welcome this additional vote of confidence in Basingstoke by the Government.

“Basingstoke has already been given more than £30m last year to solve chronic congestion on the roads.

“I will go on making the case for investment for our town because we need to plug a £200m infrastructure funding gap.”