The funding – which will be around £5.5m per year until 2022 – will be used to help build more homes and give locals more say in the development of their area via a Neighbourhood Plan.

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These Neighbourhood Plans will allow communities to have input regarding where homes, shops, green spaces and offices are built and how they should look. 

Alok Sharma, housing and planning minister, said: “Neighbourhood planning gives communities a powerful set of tools to shape their area and drive local growth.

“The government is committed to giving communities even more of a say in the development of their area, and that’s why we’re dedicating around £23m between 2018 and 2022 to help groups create Neighbourhood Plans.

“With over 400 now in place, more people than ever are having their say on the location and design of new homes, shops and offices in their community. 

“I congratulate the many thousands of community-minded people across England carrying out this valuable work.”