Communities and Local Government

• Communities and neighbourhoods
• Sustainable communities
• Publications about Sustainable Communities
• Three years on from the Sustainable Communities Plan

Communities and neighbourhoods

Three years on from the Sustainable Communities Plan

Speaking about progress made since the Plan was published three years ago, the Deputy Prime Minister said:

"The £38 billion Communities Plan set out an ambitious and long-term vision for creating thriving and sustainable communities in all regions. Already, just three years on, we are turning that plan into action.  The foundations we laid in 2003 are delivering real change in communities across the country - we are clearly on the right path.  We are determined to deliver more decent and affordable homes for all and ensure the right infrastructure  - the schools, hospitals, shops and green spaces - is in place to create places where people want to live and work now and in the future".

1)  Progress in the growth areas, particularly the Thames Gateway

• Success in increasing sustainable development across the South East - a number of completed developments being seen as blueprints for communities of the future.  Incorporating new housing with high quality design and environmental sustainability and the necessary transport links, services, leisure facilities and open spaces.
• Our response to Kate Barker's review of housing supply last December builds on this progress ensuring we build the homes and communities future generations need.

2)  Government delivering on its commitment to deliver infrastructure to make communities truly sustainable

• In the last three years £6 billion has been invested in the Thames Gateway for example. 
• Community Infrastructure Fund and Growth Area Fund delivering vital infrastructure in the areas targeted for housing growth.
• In addition, we are consulting on the nationwide Planning Gains Supplement to ensure the necessary infrastructure to support new homes is delivered. 
• Cross-cutting review launched that will look at how to deliver infrastructure strategically across Government departments.

3)  Success in tackling areas of low demand and run-down neighbourhoods, including the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders programme

• In the North and Midlands, Communities and Local Government, is investing £1.2 billion over 5 years in 9 pathfinder areas which have been hit hardest by low demand.  In many cases this will mean a programme of housing market renewal to bring run-down housing stock up to a standard fit for the 21st Century. Pathfinders have already refurbished over 13,000 homes.

4)  Increased investment in social housing and widening low cost home ownership opportunities

• In 1997/98 investment through the Housing Corporation's ADP was over £680m of which around £520m was on social rent.  By 2003/04 this had risen to £1.5bn (doubled) of which around £1.2bn was on social rent.  With the budget expected to rise to £2bn by 2007/08 we are on the way to trebling investment.  We expect to deliver an extra 10,000 social rented homes by 2008 compared to 2004/05 levels. 
• Since 1997, the Government have supported the creation of over 230,000 new affordable homes for rent or for sale through low cost home ownership schemes. These new homes include both newly built housing, and those acquired and refurbished.
• Recently announced that three lenders are to go ahead with private financing of equity loans to help more people buy a home of their own

5)  Making real progress to address the problem of homelessness

• Rough sleeping is at its lowest ever level - down by 75% since 1998.
• We have ended the scandal of homeless families with children living for long periods in cramped and unsuitable B+B hotels. Over 90% of families with children in temporary accommodation are in self-contained properties with their own front door and cooking and washing facilities.
• Sustained reductions, since the end of 2003, in the number of people who face homelessness and seek help from councils under the homelessness legislation.

6)  Delivered reforms to the planning system

• Reforms taken forward to make the planning process more responsive, transparent and effective to meet the needs of local communities.  
• In 2002, 65 per cent of all planning decisions were made within the statutory 8 week period.  Decision times had quickened by 2005, with 80 per cent of all planning decisions made within 8 weeks.
• Further work being undertaken by Kate Barker to take our reforms even further in terms of economic development.

7) Getting the balance right between safeguarding the countryside and ensuring we build communities for people to live and work in

• Exceeded minimum density requirement and brownfield target (60%) - we are now at an all time record high of 72% of new development being built on previously used land (89% in the Thames Gateway)
• New measures announced to raise environmental standards increasing energy efficiency in buildings by 40% and taking forward plans to regulate on water efficiency.  And setting further stretching standards through the new Code for Sustainable Homes. 
• The Greenbelt Direction will strengthen protections by automatically referring any significant development proposals for possible call-in by the Secretary of State.
• 10% of the Growth Area Fund is earmarked specifically for green space projects.
• A Green Grid for the Thames Gateway will provide green space for recreation for local people and enhance biodiversity.
• The 'Cleaner, Safer, Greener' programme has delivered a step change in the provision of quality green space. Some of highlights include; 309 Green Flag Award winners this year (the highest number ever and 26% increase on last year), 71% of people are satisfied with the quality of their green space (up 8% over the last 3 yrs) and £24.7m has been awarded to 1100 Living Spaces community projects, 820 projects have completed involving 63,000 local people.

8)  Encouraging regional economic development, including the Northern Way, and taking forward a programme of neighbourhood renewal

• Northern Way - a £100 million growth fund to help drive forward a groundbreaking vision for the economic renaissance of the North, to boost prosperity across the North to close a £29 billion productivity gap with the rest of the country.
• New Deal for Communities - running since autumn 1999, partnerships have been established in 39 neighbourhoods across England. Over the ten-year duration of the programme, they will receive approximately £2 billion. These resident led partnerships bring local communities, service providers and other agencies to tackle the problems in their neighbourhoods in an intensive and co-ordinated way.  A recent evaluation sees the NDC experience as an unprecedented opportunity for the neighbourhood renewal community to learn that joined-up problems need joined-up solutions.  Between 2002 and 2004 there was a 14 percentage point increase in NDC residents thinking their area had improved and a six percentage points increase in those very/fairly satisfied with the area.
• Wardens - the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in Communities and Local Government has kick-start match funded 245 warden schemes nationally.  Total grant funding for warden schemes is £93m running from 2000/01 to 2005/06.  The success of wardens has resulted in 84% of schemes being sustained after Communities and Local Government funding ended and numbers of wardens have doubled.  Wardens help prevent crime and antisocial behaviour by encouraging respect for people and place amongst all sections of the community and all age groups.  Recent MORI research shows that 75% of housing association tenants believe that wardens are a successful remedy to anti-social behaviour.

9)  Raising design standards in building and championing innovation

• Design for Manufacture competition (constructing a home for £60,000), progressed over the last year.  Run by English Partnerships on behalf of Communities and Local Government, construction on first sites gets underway later in the spring.
• Design coding pilot completed and evaluation to be published shortly.
• CABE, the Government's design advisers, working with Government to drive up design standards in the construction industry.
• Noticeable change in the way some developers are building communities (BedZed, Greenwich Millennium Village for example).

10)  Raising the profile/importance of sustainable development

• Setting the policy agenda and widening the public debate through a range of initiatives and events including; Summit 2005, DPM's Sustainable Communities Awards and the Housing Design Awards. 

Published: 3 February 2006