The Deputy Prime Minister has outlined his radical £1.5 bn plan to rejuvenate our communities. Key elements of the plan include tackling the lack of affordable homes for key workers and the most needy in London and the South East; housing growth without decreasing or diminishing the greenbelt; targeting areas affected by low demand and abandonment in the North and the Midlands; simplifying the development plan system, the compulsory purchase system and introducing Business Planning Zones. Parliamentary procedures for major infrastructure projects will not go ahead. Full statement is at http://www.odpm.gov.uk/about/ministers/speeches/prescott/180702.htm RICS responses at:http://www.rics.org/ricscms/bin/show?class=PressRelease&template=/includes/showpr.html&id=780h and http://www.rics.org/ricscms/bin/show?class=PressRelease&template=/includes/showpr.html&id=779 http://www.odpm.gov.uk/news/0207/0038.htm