Hertsmere Borough Council is expecting to receive £1.3 million in bonuses this year as a reward for building new homes.

The council will be receiving the grant as part of The Government’s New Homes Bonus Scheme, which is a grant paid by central government to local councils for increasing the number of homes in their area, either new-build homes or conversions of long-term empty homes.

Councillor Harvey Cohen said: "It’s fantastic news that the government has decided not to allocate their funding of new homes to the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which in essence is an unelected strategic body.

"While the LEP is doing lots of great work to help support and boost our local economies, we are pleased that the New Homes Bonus money is staying local and within the council’s budget so we can best deliver the services that our communities need and want.

"This is a great example of localism as work, keeping local decisions and money local, which best serves our communities. We can decide how to spend this money through consultation with our residents; it’s not earmarked in any way other than to provide services and facilities, especially within areas where housing stock has increased."