Change is on the way – but are we ready for it?

But homes of all tenures need to be increased alongside affordable housing. To do this, the planning system must be more efficient. The social sector and English Partnerships have secured significant government resources that should result in 67,000 new social rented and key worker homes by 2006, but this equates to little more than 10% of Barker's preferred output of 300,000 new homes each year.

The key to increasing delivery will be bringing forward successful schemes in a rapidly changing environment. In recent years the development industry has embraced many changes to planning: supplementary planning guidance, national planning reforms and, in London, the first regional spatial strategy and the London Plan. With the national planning reforms, we will also need to embrace new planning policy statements, secondary legislative changes and new good practice guidelines.

Building standards are being updated to reflect environmental, physical and design criteria, such as energy requirements, lifetime homes and guidance from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment – all of which introduce additional complexities in progressing schemes rapidly.

The recent amendment to the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Bill for an "optional planning charge" and the Barker Report's recommendation to examine a planning gain supplement may introduce significant changes to section 106 obligations. These, with the Housing Corporation's proposal to minimise funding for affordable housing provided through section 106 agreements, create a volatile framework for development.

There has been major progress in recent years in the creation of integrated, mixed-tenure schemes with the social sector and housebuilders working together. This gives a sound platform to enable the creation of sustainable communities.

If successful balanced communities are to be achieved, people need to be able to exercise choice rather than be simply directed to their new home

Where cross-subsidy is sought from the private sector, purchasers' confidence in the scheme is essential. Early commitment to establishing high-quality neighbourhood management is a priority. In complex urban developments, integrated tenures will need to establish common services; where tenures are within separate cores, management services can then be varied without significant impact on the overall scheme.

Clearly, local nominations will have far-reaching implications for these communities. For many homeless people, it may well be their first tenancy. Perhaps initiatives such as probationary tenancies, introduced by Northern associations, should be considered for introductory periods. In any event, if balanced communities are to be achieved, people need to be able to exercise choice rather than be simply directed to their new home. Effective management action for any breaches of lease/tenancy will, as ever, be the ultimate test.

Maximising the potential of mixed-use, mixed-tenure schemes can also reinforce sustainable communities. The benefits of having shops, bars, cafes, offices and hotels mixed with residential schemes can bring long-term opportunities for affordable housing residents. The inclusion of a hotel at Imperial Wharf in London, for example, has led to a major training initiative with the local college and will create opportunities for households moving into the scheme.

It's an exciting time to be in housing.