THE city has been handed almost a million pounds in government funding to build more than 70 new homes.

Up to 76 homes will be built around Shrub Hill in Worcester as part of ongoing regeneration work to create a new quarter in the area.

The funding – which totals £985,000 – comes from the government’s ‘Brownfield land Release Fund’ which is designed to regenerate and ‘level up’ towns and cities across the country.

The development is part of a collaboration between Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council for the transformation of Shrub Hill Station, industrial estate and surrounding canal side for employment and residential uses.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for economy and skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “It’s great news that we’ve been awarded funding of £985,000 as part of the wider regeneration plans for the Shrub Hill Quarter in Worcester.

“The Shrub Hill development is a joint collaboration between the county council and Worcester City Council and includes the transformation of Shrub Hill station, the adjacent industrial estate as well as the surrounding canalside area for employment and residential uses.

“The project will be a stimulus for the wider regeneration of the area and the funds awarded will be used to support the first stage of this exciting opportunity.”

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, said: “Urban regeneration is central to levelling up the whole country and building new homes on neglected brownfield sites is a key part of this vision.

“I’m delighted that, through our Brownfield Land Release Fund, Worcestershire will receive £985,000 to build high quality new homes in Worcester’s Shrub Hill Quarter, part of an exciting new regeneration project.

“The Government is delivering the new homes the country needs while prioritising brownfield sites, to revitalise our much-loved towns and cities.”

Shrub Hill is one of the top priority areas for regeneration in the Worcester City Centre Masterplan which sets out a vision for how the city will look by 2040.

The city has already been awarded a combined £37.6 million in government funding through the Future High Street Fund and Towns Fund.