Ministers to take personal control of progress in key high- and low-demand areas
Government ministers are to be "twinned" with each of 13 key housing areas to ensure delivery of housing policy.

Prime minister Tony Blair is known to be anxious to deliver on pledges to resolve the housing shortage in the South and revive the markets of the North and Midlands. He is expected to take personal control of the Thames Gateway region, east of London – an area that sources say could provide up to 200,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

Under proposals to be included in the forthcoming Communities Plan, the five ministers within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will each be given responsibility for an area of high demand and one of low demand.

It is understood that the ministers will act as a "fast-access point to the top" for the four high- and nine low-demand areas to ensure their concerns are heard and dealt with quickly.

An ODPM insider said: "It will be a logistical nightmare, but we'll just have to make it work."

An experienced source said: "The risk is that they give only short-term concentration to the issues. I don't think it will do any harm, but whether it does much good is open to question.

"It's a bit of a gimmick."

The ODPM source added: "Ministers will monitor the progress of the different areas and provide a critical friend role at political level. They are likely to meet with the heads of the 13 housing bodies on a quarterly basis and will make site visits."

The assignments are not based on where a minister's constituency is. For example, Greenwich MP and local government minister Nick Raynsford will be twinned with the North-east.

  • Speaking at a select committee this week David Lunts, head of the ODPM urban policy unit, revealed Whitehall may set up a further agency to help deliver its housing policies.

    It is unclear whether it would have investment powers.

    Matches made in heaven: areas of responsibility

    Nine low-demand pathfinders

    Newcastle:
    Nick Raynsford
    Humberside:
    Chris Leslie
    East Lancashire:
    Lord Rooker
    Oldham and Rochdale:
    Tony McNulty
    South Yorkshire:
    Chris Leslie
    Merseyside:
    Tony McNulty
    Manchester Salford:
    Barbara Roche
    North Staffordshire:
    Lord Rooker
    Birmingham:
    Sandwell Lord Rooker

    Four growth areas

    Milton Keynes and South Midlands:
    Lord Rooker Stansted and Cambridge:
    Barbara Roche Thames Gateway:
    Tony McNulty Ashford, Kent:
    Chris Leslie

    • Source

    Housing Today