A new partnership to help speed up the delivery of the Capital’s £3 bn housebuilding programme was announced today by Housing Minister Caroline Flint and the London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Mayor and the Government are joining forces to establish the London HCA Board, a local sub-committee of the HCA responsible for helping to deliver affordable housing in London and the South East. London Boroughs will also be represented and fully engaged in this process.

The new board will be responsible for meeting the Government’s and the Mayor’s objectives to deliver a significant increase in the total number of homes in a way that is environmentally sustainable, significantly increase the number of affordable, family-sized homes and create communities in which people want to live by targeting and regenerating the most deprived areas of London.

Caroline Flint, housing minister, said: “It is essential we increase the amount of affordable housing in London but we need to ensure homes are built where they are most needed. By strengthening our relationship with the Mayor’s office and giving a stronger voice to London boroughs we can ensure we create new communities and regenerate deprived areas in a much more joined-up way.”