Kelly outlines new housing policy

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly claims that the government's new housing and regeneration body Communities England will boost housing supply across the country and help revitalise some of our most deprived towns and cities.

The new body will deliver £1 billion worth of new homes, infrastructure and community facilities by 2014, Ms Kelly said.

"Housing supply has already increased from 130,000 a year to more than 180,000 a year since 2001. Investment in affordable housing has more than doubled in that time, with private sector investment increasing by 50 per cent over the last year to an annual total of £1 billion.

"These are significant achievements, but we must raise our efforts if we are to reach levels of the supply needed across the country."

Communities England plans to work with local councils to increase the supply of housing; promote mixed communities and estate transformation; and increase low cost home ownership.

It also said it will work on creating sustainable, strong and stable communities and regenerate deprived town centres; promote the reuse of brownfield and surplus public sector land; and drive forward the adoption of environmental standards across the whole housing market.


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