Adam GrettonThree housing developments in south Norfolk, Waveney, and Forest Heath have been boosted by a government scheme to kickstart affordable homes projects.Adam Gretton

Three housing developments in south Norfolk, Waveney, and Forest Heath have been boosted by a government scheme to kickstart affordable homes projects.

A total of 165 homes will be built in Diss, Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft, and Brandon after receiving a share of a �83m national pot of money aimed at resurrecting building projects that have stalled during the recession.

More than 40 of the new houses and flats will be made affordable to local people through the government's HomeBuy scheme.

The funding from the Kickstart programme will also safeguard jobs by granting money to developers and house builders that provide apprenticeships and opportunities for local workers.

A total of �6.5m will go towards 12 projects in the East, which has to be repaid within five years, and will result in 742 new and affordable homes.

These include �360,750 for a 50 home Persimmon Homes scheme at the former Bartrum's haulage site in Victoria Road, Diss, which only got planning permission in October.

Persimmon has also received �350,000 for the second phase of a 63 home development at Bloodmoor Hill in Carlton Colville. And J S Bloor has been given �115,000 to kickstart a 52 home scheme at the Tree Tops, in Thetford Road, Brandon.

A quarter of the mothballed developments will have workers back on site by the end of the month, said the Homes and Communities Agency.

Barbara Follett, minister for the East of England, said: 'There are two things we need urgently in this region, more affordable housing and jobs for skilled construction workers. That is why this new government funding is so welcome. It will help a lot of people in the East of England get their first home and others to get back into work.'

A total of 87 stalled developments across England, totalling 5,700 homes, have benefitted from the second round of Kickstart funding.