A TOTAL of 12 London boroughs will be given more in New Homes Bonus cash this year than East Lancashire has ever received.

Four years have passed since the housing assistance scheme was unveiled – and the likes of Blackburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and Hyndburn lost out on more than £40million per year under the former Elevate initiative.

The six boroughs, also including Ribble Valley, have received a total of £3.692million for 2014-15, with each borough significantly improving on their 2013-14 totals.

Just over £6.42million has been invested in East Lancashire since 2011, according to official figures.

Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said the payouts, part of a £16.6million countywide programme, showed ‘Lancashire was building’.

Greenwich, Barnet, Islington, Wandsworth, Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham, Hillingdon, Ealing and Croydon will all receive more than £6.42million each in New Homes Bonus for 2014-15 alone.