Government asks experts to offer boost for council building

Housing Minister John Healey and the Local Government Association (LGA) today announced they are launching joint work to look at how councils can deliver new homes to tackle the shortage of affordable housing and help drive economic growth. A new Commission chaired by Lord Richard Best and made up of council chief executives, housing association chief executives and academics, will assess what councils are already achieving and advise on ways councils could play an even greater part helping to build the homes of all types the country needs, as well as extending their strategic housing role to better meet local needs and aspirations. The Commission will report to Government and the LGA in summer 2010.