Regional design champion the Kent Architecture Centre is to open two branches in south-east England
The move is a response to the expected growth of housebuilding triggered by the government's communities plan.

The centre is to develop business plans for branches in Milton Keynes and the Solent in Hampshire.

Barry Shaw, chief executive of the Kent Architecture Centre, said: "The Kent Architecture Centre has become a national model for design quality in the South-east. CABE's national design panel only sees 11 schemes a year from the South-east. Our design panel, of which Lord Rogers is patron, sees 50 a year."

The three centres, along with the regional design panel, will work to promote the quality of housing design. Shaw said: "We have secured enormous support from the regional bodies and CABE. The South-east is beginning to take design seriously."

The Kent Architecture Centre will be working on securing funding for the scheme over the next six months.

The two centres will be launched in July. Shaw said they would be working with councils, the South East of England Development Agency, the South East of England Regional Assembly and English Partnerships.