TCPA welcomes government commitments

The Town & Country Planning Association (TCPA) has welcomed government pledges to build more and better homes in challenging market conditions.

As part of the Facing the Housing Challenge - Action today, Innovation for Tomorrow report, published yesterday, the government has committed £510 million to reward councils who release land for development.

The report also confirmed the second round of New Growth Points – an initiative designed to provide support to local communities who wish to pursue large scale growth – will also be awarded.

"The credit crunch is clearly now provoking an even greater need for affordable and sustainable homes," said TCPA chief executive, Gideon Amos.

"The housing and planning funding for local authorities, the new local authority led growth points and the associated infrastructure funding is a thoroughly welcome package for those otherwise unlikely to get a decent home."

Some 20 local authorities and partnerships were announced today in the second round of Growth Points have been allocated.

Up to £100m of funding over the comprehensive spending review (CSR) for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 has been allocated, helping to deliver early site infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.

The funds will also further studies into the potential impacts of growth, such as water supply and flood risk.

"Responding positively to local authority partners who are keen to pursue growth, the government has recognised with the New Growth Point locations that although challenges may be different geographically communities have similar growth aspirations, including local infrastructure delivery and the development of brownfield sites," explained Mr Amos.

THE TCPA has also offered its support to the government's plan to build two million new homes by 2016, with a further one million, carbon-neutral homes, by 2020.

"The number of new families and households actually forming in this country remains unchanged, regardless of the economy, so the objective to increase the number of homes provided each year to 240,000 continues to be right in social justice and sustainable planning terms," concluded Mr Amos.

Chris O'Toole