Thousands of new homes and jobs will be created in “beautiful, green neighbourhoods” across England, the government has claimed, after housing minister Stuart Andrew announced £15m in funding for garden communities.

The government believes the Garden Communities programme will deliver up to 16,000 homes per year from 2025, “driving growth across England, breathing life into 43 towns and villages and putting green, wildlife-friendly spaces at the heart of new development”.

The new funding will regenerate:

• Long Marston in Warwickshire, formerly a disused airfield will see 3,500 new homes being built, with a requirement for 35% affordable housing
• Halsnead Garden Village in Knowsley will deliver 1,619 new homes in Merseyside along with 22.5 hectares of land for new businesses. A country park will accompany wetlands and restored wildflower meadows to improve biodiversity
• West Carclaze Garden Village will support the delivery of up to 1,500 new homes

Housing minister Andrew said: “Building beautiful new homes in the places they are most needed lies at the heart of the government’s levelling up mission.

“Garden villages and towns are perfect examples of the vibrant, green communities we want to see right across the country and today’s funding will allow us to work hand-in-hand with local leaders and industry to deliver the high-quality new homes that we need.”

The new investment brings total funding for the Garden Communities programme to more than £69 million.

The government claims it will also support nearly 200,000 jobs in the schools, shops and offices developed within each garden community.

The programme provides support to progress long-term housing projects from their earliest stages, and enables local authorities to recruit specialist staff, undertake the required planning and receive advice and support from the housing delivery body, Homes England.

Peter Freeman, Chair of Homes England, said: “Working collaboratively and supporting locally led ambitions to deliver well-designed and great quality new places and communities in the right places is central to our mission.

“This funding will support the delivery of much needed homes and bolster the local economy.”

The announcement builds on plans in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to put beauty and nature at the heart of new development design, with the introduction of mandatory design codes, which will make sure developers respect styles drawn up and favoured locally – from the layout or materials used, to how it provides green space.