Housing minister, John Healey, has warned authorities must make rapid progress on house-building projects, if they are to receive funding through the second phase of the CLG's ‘New build' programme. Mr Healey has invited applications for the second stage of the largest council house-building programme since 1992, and expects to make announcements on successful projects shortly. But with the UK economy still struggling, Mr Healey is eager to boost productivity, jobs and apprenticeships by ensuring all new projects are up and running by at least March 2010 – preferably sooner. ‘Times are tough, so the construction industry needs support now, and we must create more jobs. That's why I will look to give the green light to projects which can start on site as soon as possible,' he said. As well as estimating that up to 1,200 new homes will be built under the initiative – which forms part of the £1.5bn Housing Pledge – Mr Healey also wants to create 7,500 new jobs and 180 apprenticeships.
