The UK construction industry was hit by a coronavirus epidemic earlier this year and reviving the industry could help reduce unemployment and generate revenue as the country faces a severe recession for 300 years. The building fund is expected to deliver 45,000 new houses and 26,000 brown areas, the government said.

“As we get Britain building and lay the foundation for green recovery by investing in the vital infrastructure of local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally friendly homes,” said Jenrick.

An important choice

Among the projects that will receive funding are a new high-speed railway station at Thanet, on the southeast coast of England, and a new commercial center in Manchester, in the northwest of England. Of all the funded projects, the government estimates that investment will create 85,000 jobs.

The green chase

Details of the Green Homes Grant program, which helps 600,000 homeowners to upgrade their buildings, were announced simultaneously. Grants will cover about 5,000 pounds of work. Low-income families can claim 10,000 pounds each.

The program will include insulation and double-glazing, as well as installation of ground source heat pumps, energy saving doors and temperature controls. Families will be provided with a list of vendors allowed within their area to do the job, and vouchers will be issued.

The grants “will help protect and create jobs, and will also save people money and reduce carbon emissions,” Chancellor Exchequer Rishi Sunak said in an email.