27 October 2006
More than 400,000 extra homes are to be built in 45 English towns and cities after the government designated them growth points.
Local authorities will share £40m towards new services, with part of the money used to assess the environmental impact of the housing.
Housing minister Yvette Cooper said the proposals, announced on October 24, would help more first-time buyers to join the property ladder and boost jobs by encouraging economic development over the next ten years.
The growth areas are part of the government's response to the Barker Review. This called for house building rates in England to increase from 160,000 to 200,000 per year by 2016.
Cooper said: 'If we don't build more homes, less than a third of today's ten-year-olds will be able to afford a place of their own in 20 years' time.'
Local authorities will be expected to focus growth around existing urban centres and pioneer high design standards. Leicester, part of a three-city bid with Derby and Nottingham, plans an eco-friendly settlement that will use renewable energy and minimise water use and waste.
The growth points were announced as new government figures showed that more young people are renting because of rising house prices. Since 1993, the number of 25 to 29-year-olds renting from private landlords has risen from 19% to 34%.
PFoct2006
