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Kevin McCloud to support the self-build surge

Kevin McCloud has been appointed by the self-build industry to support the national surge of interest in people looking to design and build their own home.
14 May 2012 Read full story

This section contains the latest press notices from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

• Eric Pickles' reforms offer potential £10 billion boost to economy

  

  Government plans to allow councils to retain more of the money they raise from business rates could boost the economy by an estimated ten billion pounds, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 17 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: Revamped Right to Buy to deliver thousands of new homes

  

  Details of how thousands of new affordable homes will be built using the cash proceeds from the Government's reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme have been unveiled by Housing Minister Grant Shapps.

  • Added: 15 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Baroness Newlove - Ten communities to tackle binge and underage drinking unveiled

  

  The 10 communities that will lead work to tackle binge and underage drinking have been announced by the Government Champion for Active Safer Communities.

  • Added: 14 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Kevin McCloud to support the self-build surge

  

  Kevin McCloud has been appointed by the self-build industry to support the national surge of interest in people looking to design and build their own home.

  • Added: 14 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: £1.8m to tackle scandal of 'beds in sheds'

  

  Criminal landlords trapping vulnerable people in 'suburban shanty-towns' will get the justice they deserve, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has pledged.

  • Added: 11 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: Tackling record deficit has helped keep repossessions down

  

  The Government's commitment to tackling the record deficit is keeping interest rates at a record low and a secure roof over the heads of millions of hard-working homeowners, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has said.

  • Added: 10 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Queen's speech sets out parliamentary plans for Local Audit overhaul

  

  A new Bill setting out measures to close the Audit Commission and establish new arrangements for the audit of local bodies was part of Her Majesty The Queen's State Opening of Parliament today.

  • Added: 9 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Eric Pickles: Celebrating the Jubilee in all communities

  

  Eric Pickles has announced funding to ensure that communities are not left out of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations this Summer.

  • Added: 7 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: Government on target to smash public land ambition

  

  Whitehall departments are set to smash the Prime Minister's ambition to release previously-used public land for building the homes this country needs, Housing Minister Grant Shapps said today.

  • Added: 7 May 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: Surge of interest in national home swap scheme

  

  Housing Minister Grant Shapps has hailed the national home swap scheme, HomeSwap Direct, as inquiries via the new scheme passed the million mark.

  • Added: 30 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• National taskforce to end the problem of 'beds in sheds'

  

  A new national taskforce will be set up to tackle the issue of "beds in sheds" by taking action against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants.

  • Added: 30 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: 'Fantastic' response to Portas Pilots offer

  

  Hundreds of towns across the country have applied in their droves to become one of the first Portas Pilots to breathe new life into their high streets, Local Government Minister Grant Shapps said today.

  • Added: 27 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Changes to the Audit Commission Board

  

  The search for a new Commissioner to sit on the Audit Commission's Board has been launched.

  • Added: 24 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: Help to get boxed-in generation up the property ladder

  

  The boxed-in generation - people unable to upsize their home but who have also outgrown their first property - will for the first time benefit from support to help them move up the housing ladder, Grant Shapps said today.

  • Added: 24 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Grant Shapps: Downing Street hosting the self-build boom

  

  A package of new support to give as many people as possible the opportunity to build their own homes was announced today at England's most famous address by Housing Minister Grant Shapps.

  • Added: 19 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Local government ombudsman to champion residents' cause

  

  A Chairman and Vice Chairman Ombudsman who will lead a more customer-focused Commission that champions the rights of redress for local residents have been appointed.

  • Added: 16 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• George Clarke appointed empty homes adviser

  

  Architect and TV presenter George Clarke is to be an independent adviser to the Government to help bring thousands of empty homes back into use for families in need of stable, secure homes, Ministers have announced.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• Red tape holding back councils cut by more than a quarter

  

  The Government has reduced the amount of 'red tape' data collections it expects councils to send by over a quarter - giving them more time to focus on residents and local priorities, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• New reforms will stop town hall corruption and culture of malicious complaints

  

  Local Government Minister Bob Neill has called on councils to use their new found freedom from the recently axed Standards Board to prevent corruption and ensure high standards in local public life.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom

• England's array of Enterprise Zones go operational

  

  The next generation of Enterprise Zones are now 'operational sites' with 'live deals' immediately available for aspiring new businesses, Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.

  • Added: 11 April 2012
  • Site: Newsroom