NHF bangs drum for the South-west

The campaign coincides with a hearing of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister select committee on reducing regional disparities in prosperity. The hearing took place this week and continues on 28 and 30 April.

There was anger in the region after it did not get any funding rises above inflation in the Communities Plan, despite its affordable housing crisis. The region was also hit hard by the loss of local authority social housing grant, which accounted for a third of all completions last year.

NHF regional spokesman Tony Muir said: "We are trying to bang the drum hard for the South-west. No spending increase was given but we hope to get an increase in the next round."

He said housing associations would lobby their MPs and speak to the press.

Housebuilders pledged to produce schemes that complement and enhance local character in a manifesto released this week.

The manifesto, called Building for Life: A Commitment to Quality from House Builders, sets out priorities for new developments, which it claimed could benefit builders and the public.

These included:

• the recognition "that developments with uniform house types, in schemes that ignore local identity and site characteristics will not deliver value"
  
• a commitment to work more closely with key stakeholders, including local communities, designers, local planning authorities and highway engineers
  
• a commitment to build new housing developments providing diversity and choice in the way that houses relate to each other.

The list was compiled by Building for Life, a partnership between the House Builders Federation, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and the Civic Trust.

Wayne Hemingway, chairman of Building for Life, said: "This is a milestone for the housing industry and the wider public. This manifesto will help bring the best brains and ultimate care and consideration to the design and building of our homes."