00:00The government says the plan will deliver life-changing results for thousands of families waiting for safe and affordable homes.
00:07The £1.1 billion allocation comes through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, part of a wider £39 billion national scheme running until 2036,
00:18although it's not yet clear how quickly that money will be released.
00:22Regional Mayor Kim McGuinness will be given the power to shape how and where new homes are built.
00:27Priority areas are expected to include sites in Northumberland, Tynan Weir and County Durham, particularly around key transport links,
00:36riverside developments and town centres such as South Shields, Wallsend, Ashington and Sunderland's Dunnyside.
00:43Housing Secretary Steve Reid described the investment as life-changing, saying regional mares will now be in the driving seat to turn wastelands into homes and slash social housing waiting lists.
00:54Mayor McGuinness said she plans to use every penny of the funding to deliver thousands of affordable and rental homes while preparing more brownfield sites for development.
01:03She added that so far work has already begun to clear the way for over 700 new homes in Gateshead, Easington, Ashington and other parts of the region.
01:12The government also confirmed a further £17.6 million for brownfield regeneration, building on earlier investment of nearly £50 million to support around 3,000 homes on disused land.
01:25Twelve sites have already been identified, including major projects in Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland, which together could deliver nearly 1,200 new homes.
01:36The government says the funding marks the start of a long-term plan to transform housing across the North East.
01:42The government says the funding for the North East.
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