ROOF Blog

The Audit Commission has warned that pathfinder renewal schemes in the north and midlands may struggle to recover from the credit crisis. It said the downturn could not have come at a worse time for the schemes, and it expects the house price gap between pathfinder areas and other parts of the country will widen again. The commission called on the Homes and Communities Agency to monitor the pathfinders more closely and to establish a ‘broad vision’ for the programme.

Iain Wright, junior housing minister, confirmed yesterday that almost £350 million will be made available in the next financial year through the Homes and Communities Agency to help regenerate local housing markets and restore confidence in the community. Nine pathfinder areas and three other areas will receive funds to refurbish properties, improve the quality of housing stock, and bring people and services back into areas which had become disconnected with their neighbouring communities. Mr Wright said ‘The Pathfinders scheme is making a big difference in transforming local communities and housing markets in areas in need of regeneration.’

Housebuilding in England’s 11 Pathfinder areas is set to halve for the coming two years because of the decline in mortgage availability and house sales. The Pathfinder scheme was designed to construct affordable homes for sale as a means of regenerating some of England’s most run down urban areas. The government has committed £2.2 billion to the scheme between 2002 and 2011 to build up to 10,000 homes a year.