Ministers aim to give market shot in arm

Measures designed to prop up the ailing housing market were pushed out by ministers yesterday amid a blizzard of bad news for the sector.

Jim Pickard, Political Correspondent, FT.com - 3 July 08

Caroline Flint, housing minister, confirmed plans to change payments to housebuilders from public sector clients so that they would receive more money upfront.

Other plans, revealed in the Financial Times last week, include a new clearing house to help housing associations find appropriate properties that developers cannot sell privately.

Ms Flint also announced £270m for specific projects from housing associations to deliver 3,800 homes for social rent and 1,500 for shared ownership. The money will come out of an existing three-year affordable housing programme - full article