COMMUNITIES across South Gloucestershire will benefit from a £640,000 share of the local authority’s £2.1million New Homes Bonus allocation.

The six-year Government grant match-funds the additional council tax raised for new houses or empty properties brought back into use, with an additional amount for affordable homes.

At the recent council budget meeting, it was agreed that the district’s New Homes Bonus allocation would be split, with 70 per cent being used to support existing planned infrastructure investment and protect front line services, and the remaining 30 per cent – amounting to £640,000 in 2012/13 – being earmarked for funding in communities experiencing new housing growth.

The parishes set to benefit from the move include Yate which is due to receive £71,606, Frampton Cotterell expected to be awarded £42,380, Almondsbury to be given £28,620 and Winterbourne to be granted £28,454.

Conservative cabinet member for communities Cllr James Hunt (Emersons Green) said the New Homes Bonus had the potential to make a highly positive impact across South Gloucestershire’s growing neighbourhoods over the next six years.

He said: "The New Homes Bonus is an important part of our strategy to support existing planned investment infrastructure, protect front line services, and ensure that those communities who are experiencing new housing growth have the additional resources to spend on the initiatives and projects that they feel would make the biggest difference locally."

"Only Conservative councillors gave their unanimous support for this local funding," he added.

A policy for the allocation, distribution and use of this 30 per cent allocation is now being developed and will be approved by the council in the summer.