New broom: All change at DCLG

Jamie Carpenter examines what the new ministerial appointments at the DCLG indicate about the department’s future direction

After all the excitement of earlier this week the dust is beginning to settle and many ministers are now in post. New communities secretary Eric Pickles has been joined at the Department for Communities and Local Government by Grant Shapps and Greg Clark, the department has confirmed. Shapps is the new housing minister, while Clark is reported to have taken on a “decentralisation” role. Further ministerial appointments are expected to follow today.

So what do the new appointments indicate about the likely future direction and priorities of the DCLG? Firstly, I’d suggest that the appointments of Pickles and Shapps send out a message that the coalition government intends to deliver on the pledges set out in the Conservative Party’s recent planning green paper (which are close to localism plans outlined in the Lib Dem manifesto). Many of the policies outlined by Pickles when he was shadow communities secretary between 2007 and 2009 – such as abolishing regional spatial strategies - appeared in the planning green paper and the Tory election manifesto. One of Pickles’ first tasks will be to lead a review into local government finance, a measure secured by the Liberal Democrats during the coalition negotiations.

The appointment of Clark as “decentralisation” minister suggests that localism is a policy area that the new coalition government takes very seriously. Clark, who was shadow energy and climate change secretary when the Tories were in opposition, is seen as a rising star in the Conservative Party. Speaking to kentnews.co.uk following his appointment, Clark said: "It’s all encompassing and about the transfer of power from central government to the people. I’m very excited about it.”

Reacting to his appointment as housing minister on his Twitter page, Shapps said: “Having shadowed four housing ministers in a row it's an honour to finally be the minister of state for housing.” He has already been asked by Pickles to “take a fresh look” at existing government schemes to help homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments. However, questions have already been raised as to whether housing is as high a priority for the new coalition government as it was for the Labour administration. Former housing minister John Healey attended Cabinet. Shapps is not listed among the ministers in the new Government that attend Cabinet, so it looks unlikely that he will do the same.

Who would be in your fantasy cabinet?

As I write, we are still no clearer on what shape the next government might take. We could see a Lib-Lab coalition, a Lib-Con coalition, or a minority Tory administration. Perhaps this is why Whitehall watchers have been spending some time over the last few days playing "fantasy cabinet" - a game in which they suggest candidates for seats around the cabinet table.

Those responding to a fantasy cabinet survey by the Guardian voted for Vince Cable as chancellor, Nick Clegg as home secretary, the Green Party's Caroline Lucas as climate change secretary and Yvette Cooper as communities secretary.

Meanwhile, a debate is ongoing over at the BBC along the same lines. Interesting suggestions so far include Judge Dredd as justice secretary, John Terry as defence secretary and the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine as transport secretary. "Bags of experience, well respected and liked. Knows how to run an efficient transportation network," suggests "Trouble_up_North".

#fantasycabinet is also a trending topic on micro-blogging service Twitter. Here, saffywalton suggests Bob the Builder as housing and planning minister, and theneweconomics says there is overwhelming support for Caroline Lucas as PM.

Who would sit in your fantasy cabinet? Let us know by commenting below.

The 'Big Society' backlash: Was it regeneration wot lost it?

Over the weekend there were a number of interesting stories relating to the fallout from last week's general election. According to the reports, the knives are already out for Tory leader David Cameron following his failure to achieve an outright majority. And interestingly, one reason cited again and again as being one of the factors behind the Conservative Party's failure to win a majority, was Cameron's flagship Big Society policy - one of the few regeneration-related big ideas to emerge from the three main parties' manifestos.

According to a report in the Observer, many MPs and candidates are "furious" that they had to sell the Big Society, in which citizens volunteer their free time for community action, on the doorstep. "The message was completely woolly. We had nothing to say," one senior MP told the newspaper. "Instead of this complete crap about Big Society we should have had a series of simple messages."

Meanwhile, a piece in the Times says that the Tory manifesto's theme of the Big Society was intended to project a sense of optimism and bold thinking, which Tory candidates and activists struggled to convey to voters. "It was too opaque a concept to sell on the doorsteps," a figure close to the campaign told the newspaper. "What was worse was that it had not even been tested in focus groups before the manifesto launch."

According to an article in the Sunday Telegraph, as activists complained that the idea was difficult to sell to voters, Bill Knapp, the US political consultant hired to help Cameron, asked Tory head of strategy Steve Hilton what research had been done into what voters thought of the Big Society. "The answer was none," the newspaper reported. "After a hurriedly convened focus group detailed a negative reaction, Mr Hilton stormed out."

So should the backlash against the Big Society be of concern to regeneration professionals should the Tories succeed in forming the next government? The idea has received a mixed response from the regeneration sector - some practitioners, no doubt, would not lose any sleep should the Tories choose to quietly drop the plan. But given the lack of emphasis given to regeneration during the election campaign, it would be a shame if the only main party to set out some sort of regeneration vision in its manifesto was to drop the centrepiece of that plan.

Poll: What form of government is best for regeneration?

No single party was able to secure an outright majority in yesterday's general election, which means that cross-party consensus is likely to be needed to get laws through parliament.

What form such a government takes - a Labour-Lib Dem coalition, a Tory-Lib Dem coalition or a Tory minority government - remains to be seen.

We want to know what type of government you think would be best for the regeneration sector.

Before voting in our poll at the top of this blog, read this guide from our team on the degree of consensus that there is on the three main parties' regeneration plans.

And catch up on all our election coverage at www.regen.net/election2010.

Election 2010: How election night will unfold

Staying up to watch the election results tonight? Read on for our hour-by-hour guide to how events might unfold overnight, including details of when the seats of key politicians with regeneration briefs are expected to declare. Our journalists will be tweeting as events unfold - follow them at @RegenCarpenter, @RegenHickey and @RegenTownsend.

22.00 Polls close and a major exit poll jointly commissioned by the BBC, ITV News and Sky News should give an indication of what the night may hold.

23.00 The first constituencies are likely to declare. The first to declare is expected to be Houghton & Sunderland South, where Labour's Bridget Phillipson should take victory in the party's ninth safest seat in England.

00.45 Birmingham Edgbaston is expected to be the first marginal seat to declare. The seat, held by Labour's Gisela Stuart, is number 47 on the Conservatives' target list.

02.00 Regional economic development minister Rosie Winterton's safe Doncaster Central seat is expected to declare at 2am. Following boundary changes, Winterton has a notional majority of more than 10,000.

02.30 A whole host of seats will declare at 2.30am. These are likely to include Meriden, where shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman has a notional majority of more than 7,000 and Welwyn Hatfield, where shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has a notional majority approaching 6,000. Seats expected to declare at this time also include Wentworth & Dearne, where housing minister John Healey has a huge notional majority of more than 17,000 following boundary changes, and Nottingham East, where New Local Government Network director Chris Leslie is standing for Labour in what has been a safe seat for the party since the early 1990s.

03.00 At 3am, the ultra marginal Croydon Central seat is expected to declare. A project to revamp the headquarters of the council using a pioneering local asset-backed vehicle has been at the centre of a political row during the election campaign. Finchley & Golders Green is also expected to declare at this time, where Tory Mike Freer - architect of the "easyCouncil" - is attempting to snatch the marginal seat from the Labour Party.

03.30 Stoke-on-Trent Central, being contested by historian Tristram Hunt for Labour, is expected to declare at 3.30am. The seat is safe Labour territory, but Hunt, a board member of the New Local Government Network and Centre for Cities, must fend off a challenge from the BNP, which is standing its deputy leader in the constituency.

04.00 Expect another glut of results at 4am. Barking, top of the BNP's target list, is expected to declare at this time, but BNP leader Nick Griffin would need a huge swing to take the seat from Labour's Margaret Hodge. Marginal Hammersmith is also likely to declare at 4am - here Labour's Andy Slaughter faces a challenge from Tory Shaun Bailey. An election leaflet delivered to residents in the constituency by Slaughter's team alleges plans by councillors to redevelop housing estates as luxury homes. But Bailey has accused Slaughter of "lies". Communities secretary John Denham's Southampton Itchen seat is expected to declare at this time (he has a majority of more than 8,000), as is shadow regeneration minister Stewart Jackson's Peterborough seat. Jackson has a notional majority of more than 4,000, but came under fire during the expenses scandal for claiming money for work on his swimming pool.

05.00 At 5am the Lib Dem communities and local government spokeswoman Julia Goldsworthy's Camborne & Redruth seat is expected to declare. The seat is a target for the Tories, but Goldsworthy will be hoping that the Clegg factor helps fend off the challenge.

05.30 At 5.30am the new seat of Brent Central is expected to declare. Sarah Teather, the Lib Dem housing spokeswoman faces a stiff challenge from Labour's Dawn Butler, who has a notional majority of more than 7,000. Also look out for Corby at this time - Conservative target seat number 28. Here, incumbent MP Phil Hope has been talking up the benefits of growth and the Labour government's investment in regeneration.

The regeneration thinkers standing in this week's election

The day of the general election - May 6 - is almost with us. If you are wondering how to liven up what promises to be an exciting night of TV when the results come in on Thursday night, you could keep a look out for the three "regeneration thinkers" listed below.

Chris Leslie, director of the New Local Government Network think-tank, is standing for Labour in the seat of Nottingham East. The seat is currently held by Labour, with a majority of more than 7,000. It is target seat number 241 for the Conservatives. Prior to becoming director of NLGN - a think-tank that backs devolution - Leslie was Labour MP for Shipley between 1997 and 2005. From 2002 to 2003, Leslie was parliamentary under secretary of state at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, where he was responsible for local government and regions policy.

Mike Freer, Tory leader of the London Borough of Barnet, is seeking to snatch the ultra marginal north London Finchley and Golders Green seat from the Labour Party. The seat has been held by the Labour Party since 1997, but boundary changes mean that it now has a slim notional Tory majority. Freer describes himself as the "architect" of a new Conservative concept on local government - easyCouncil. This "easyJet" version of service delivery is based on the budget airline which charges customers extra for services once considered part of the standard fare.

Historian Dr Tristram Hunt, a lecturer in history at Queen Mary, University of London and a board member of the Centre for Cities think-tank, was controversially selected to fight the Stoke Central seat for Labour last month. The seat, with a Labour majority approaching 10,000, has been safe Labour territory for decades. But the British National Party are standing their deputy leader, Simon Darby, in the constituency. The BNP already has a sizable foothold on the council and chose to launch its manifesto in the city last month. Earlier this year, Hunt wrote a piece in the Financial Times highlighting the plight of Britain's ports.

Do you know of any other regeneration figures standing in this week's general election? Let us know (by commenting below or emailing jamie.carpenter@haymarket.com) and we'll add them to the list.

Election 2010: Has regeneration disappeared?

The sector's main trade body the British Urban Regeneration Association has published a briefing note setting out its reaction to the three main political parties' election manifestos. The tone of the document is pretty bleak. "Regeneration has disappeared," it says. "For the first time in 30 years no political party is making any coherent statements about how to tackle the most deprived areas of our country."

While being pretty gloomy, the note is well worth a read - I found its section setting out extracts of what election manifestos since 1979 have said about regeneration particularly interesting. It makes the point that successive manifestos published by both Labour and the Tories in 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2005 have made "coherent statements about how to tackle the most deprived areas of the country" - and this is backed up by evidence in the document. Bura's conclusion after digesting the 2010 crop of manifestos is that "regeneration, however defined, is not on the radar". The manifestos do not hold out a "prospect of fundamental change in our most deprived communities," Bura's briefing note says.

Bura now wants leading politicians to answer the following three questions:

Are you saying that the inner cities problem is solved?

If not, how will you give the necessary focus to the most deprived areas?

How can central and local government support the actions of the communities in the neighbourhoods?

Do you agree that regeneration has "disappeared"? Are you concerned by the three parties' failure to address regeneration in their manifestos? Is the inner cities problem solved? Join the debate by commenting below.

Picture credit: Phil Plait, Flickr

Where they stand: Community renewal

Welcome to the fourth in our series of ‘where they stand’ pieces setting out the three main parties' manifesto pledges on a range of key regeneration-related issues. Below, we examine what the manifestos say about community renewal.

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Where they stand: Transport

Where they stand: Housing

Where they stand: Planning

Election 2010 live blog: Conservative Party manifesto

Election 2010 live blog: Labour Party manifesto

Election 2010: The politicians to watch

Election 2010: Let us know what you want from the next government

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Labour

• Manifesto promises a "universal service obligation" on retail banks so that all customers with a valid address have a legal right to a basic bank account
• Says that a Labour government would force banks to publicly report on the extent to which they are "under-serving" communities. A new levy on banks would be introduced to fund a "step change" in the scale of affordable lending by third sector organisations
• A Labour government would consult on putting the Compact Commission, the body overseeing the Compact agreement between public bodies and the third sector, on a statutory footing

• Says that a Labour government would promote asset transfer and set up a fund to support the community ownership of local services, such as pubs

• Says that a Social Investment Bank, funded by dormant accounts, would make additional capital available to social enterprises. The bank would have an initial endowment of £75 million, the manifesto says

• A Labour government would extend participatory budgeting schemes to give people more say in local spending decisions, the manifesto says

Conservatives

• Says that a Conservative government would use Cabinet Office budgets to fund the training of community organisers to help people establish and run neighbourhood groups and would provide neighbourhood grants to the UK's poorest areas to "ensure they play a leading role in the rebuilding of civic society"

• Says that a Tory government would launch an annual "Big Society Day", which would celebrate the work of neighbourhood groups and encourage more people to take part in social action

• Says that the Conservatives would provide funding from a "Big Society Bank" - using cash in dormant bank accounts - to intermediary bodies with a track record of supporting and growing social enterprises

• Manifesto says that the Conservatives would develop a measure of wellbeing that "encapsulates the social value of state action"

• Says a Tory government would introduce a "fair deal" on grants to give voluntary sector organisations more stability and "allow them to earn a competitive return for providing public services"

• Says that a "National Citizen Service" would provide a programme for 16-year-olds to give them a chance to develop the skills needed to be active and responsible citizens

• Manifesto says that a Tory government would introduce a community right-to-buy scheme to help communities protect assets at risk of closure

Liberal Democrats
• Says that the Liberal Democrats would pass a new Mutuals, Co-operatives and Social Enterprise Bill to "bring the law up to date and give responsibility for mutuals to a specific minister"

• Manifesto promises to reform Gift Aid so that more money goes to charities

• Promises to reform the way the National Lottery is taxed from a ticket tax to a gross profits tax, "which is forecast to deliver more for good causes"

• Says that the Liberal Democrats would use cash in dormant betting accounts to set up a capital fund for improving local sports facilities and supporting sports clubs

• Manifesto says that Lib Dems would invest £2.5 billion in a "pupil premium" to boost education opportunities for every disadvantaged child

Your verdict

You've now read what the manifestos have to say about community renewal. Let us know what you think of the respective parties' plans by commenting below. You can also vote in our poll (top right) to let us know which party's manifesto plans you think promise the most for regeneration.

Where they stand: Transport

Welcome to the third in our series of ‘where they stand’ pieces setting out the three main parties' manifesto pledges on a range of key regeneration-related issues. Below, we examine what the manifestos say about transport.

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Where they stand: Housing

Where they stand: Planning

Election 2010 live blog: Conservative Party manifesto

Election 2010 live blog: Labour Party manifesto

Election 2010: The politicians to watch

Election 2010: Let us know what you want from the next government

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Labour

• Manifesto says that a Labour government would consult fully on legislation to take forward high-speed rail plans "within the next Parliament". Labour's high-speed rail plans would see an initial line linking London to Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds, and then to the North and Scotland, the manifesto says
• Says that a Labour government would press ahead with a "major investment programme" in existing rail services, "hugely improving" commuter services into and out of London, and electrifying new rail lines including the Great Western Main Line from London to south Wales
• A Labour government would "complete" the new east-west Crossrail line in London, according to the manifesto

• Manifesto says that a Labour government would extend hard-shoulder running on motorways, along with targeted motorway widening, including on the M25

• Rules out the introduction of national road pricing in the next Parliament

• Supports a third runway at Heathrow, "subject to strict conditions on environmental impact and flight numbers". Says that a Labour government would not allow additional runways to proceed at any other airport during the next Parliament

• Promises to ensure there are 100,000 electric vehicle charging points by the end of the next Parliament

Conservatives

• Says that a Conservative government would "begin work immediately" to create a high-speed rail line linking London and Heathrow with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The second phase of the plans would bring the North-East, Scotland and Wales into the high-speed network, the manifesto says

• Says that a Tory government would stop plans for a third runway at Heathrow, and instead link the airport to the high-speed rail network

• Says that the Conservatives "support" Crossrail and the electrification of the Great Western Main Line to south Wales

• Manifesto says that the Conservatives would introduce a moratorium on building on disused rail lines still in public ownership, so they are available to be reopened

• Says a Tory government would "introduce incentives" for electricity network operators to establish a new national car charging network

• Says that the Conservatives would support sustainable travel initiatives that "work best for local communities" by giving the concerns of cyclists much greater priority, encouraging partnerships between bus operators and local authorities, and helping people cut down on work-related travel

Liberal Democrats
• Pledges to switch traffic from road to rail by investing in local rail improvements such as opening closed rail lines and adding extra tracks, "paid for by cutting the major roads budget"
• Set up a UK infrastructure bank to invest in public transport like high-speed rail
• Manifesto promises to give councils greater powers to regulate bus services according to community needs so that local people "get a real say over routes and fares"
• Promote safer cycling and pedestrian routes in all local transport plans
• Cancel plans for a third runway at Heathrow and any expansion of other airports in the South-East

• Says that the Liberal Democrats would "undertake preparations" for a system of road pricing in a second Parliament. Says that such a system would be "revenue neutral" for motorists, with "revenue from cars used to abolish Vehicle Excise Duty and reduce fuel duty, helping those in rural areas who have no alternatives to road travel"

Your verdict

You've now read what the manifestos have to say about transport. Let us know what you think of the respective parties' plans by commenting below. You can also vote in our poll (top right) to let us know which party's manifesto plans you think promise the most for regeneration.

Election 2010: Reaction to Tory 'Big Society' plans

Today’s issue of Regeneration & Renewal carries an analysis of the ‘Big Society’ chapter of the Conservative Party’s election manifesto – in particular looking at plans to give people the power to instigate referendums on any local issue provided that at least five per cent of residents sign up. In the course of my research I spoke to a number of professionals - read the comments of three of them here - working in the community sector and asked them how they felt about the proposals.

Some really interesting points were raised - not least on the referenda issue: one or two people said giving residents the power to oppose, or approve, any planned community renewal schemes in their area would be a good thing and would help to weed out unpopular projects doomed to failure because of their lack of local support. However, the vast majority said that it would more likely have a negative impact on the sector – delaying schemes and inviting uninformed individuals, who perhaps did not represent the interests of the neighbourhood as a whole, to make decisions around the complex issues associated with strengthening and improving communities.

Because of the wealth of good comment I received, I have listed below some examples that, due to lack of space, did not make it into the magazine. Any feedback is very welcome.

Please note, New Deal for Communities (NDC) partnerships and successor bodies were contacted for their views but, due to ‘purdah’ restrictions imposed on public bodies in the run up to elections, were unable to comment.

Russell Spencer, a consultant at Renaisi: “I am slightly concerned by these policies that suggest power and responsibility would be shifted onto people who are not skilled in community development and who are not fully aware of all the issues involved. I expect existing community organisations would be forced to take a step back and adopt more of a facilitator role rather than delivering regeneration projects themselves.

“I also think that the plans to encourage people to set up their own community groups etc are a bit pie-in-the-sky. Recent NDC evaluations have found that there is no evidence to suggest that there is this untapped wealth of committed and eager community volunteers just waiting to be asked to do more.”

[Spencer on the referendum proposals]: “On the one hand this could prove highly empowering for people but on the other, it could lead to important, although perhaps controversial, community regeneration schemes being vetoed by a small number of opinionated residents who find them unattractive. An example of such a project might be plans for a new ex-young offender rehabilitation centre. The centre might be very necessary in the area, but residents perhaps wouldn’t like the idea of having a load of ex-offenders in the local community.

Mark Parker, head of policy at community sector membership body Bassac: "Involving people in decisions about their community is vital. The key question is how referenda can best support both the wider community's wellbeing and help to defend minority interests. However, local democracy does need a shot in the arm and if referenda can provide that it will certainly help to make community politics more meaningful."

Steve Wyler, director of the Development Trusts Association (DTA): "The DTA welcomes plans that will allow local people to have more power over what happens in their communities as long as such plans are not over-burdened with bureaucracy and can deliver real community-led solutions. We would be keen to find out more detail on how such plans would be put into practice and would urge any future government to involve community-led organisations in the design to ensure that valuable community regeneration initiatives are not unnecessarily stalled.”

Glenn Jenkins, spokesman for Marsh Farm Outreach (community group based on the Marsh Farm council estate in Luton): “I think we will all be much busier if the Tories get in because the privatisation of anything that moves will lead to further and deeper fragmentation of our communities.”

Dick Ellison, chief executive of ETEC Development Trust, Sunderland: “The ideas contained in the Big Society manifesto are conceptually strong. However, in order to implement them effectively – especially the plans to encourage local people to set up their own neighbourhood groups and organise their own community-related activities – the party will need to provide major investment, in terms of funding, training and skills infrastructure and regulation. They have not mentioned the need for any of this.”

Where they stand: Planning

Welcome to the second in our series of ‘where they stand’ pieces setting out the three main parties' manifesto pledges on a range of key regeneration-related issues. Below, we examine what the manifestos say about planning.

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Where they stand: Housing

Election 2010 live blog: Conservative Party manifesto

Election 2010 live blog: Labour Party manifesto

Election 2010: The politicians to watch

Election 2010: Let us know what you want from the next government

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Labour

• Manifesto says that the newly formed Infrastructure Planning Commission will - “within a democratically determined framework” - help streamline and speed up decision-making on major projects
• Councils now have to ensure that the importance of local services to the community is taken into account before granting planning permission to change their use, manifesto says. A Labour government “will strengthen this” to protect viable shops, pubs and community facilities”, according to the manifesto
• Says that the area of Green Belt has increased over the last decade, and that “we intend to sustain it”
• A Labour government would maintain the target that 60 per cent of new development should be on brownfield land
• Manifesto says that a Labour government would review the structures that oversee English Heritage, “putting mutual principles at the heart of its governance so that people can have a direct say over the protection and maintenance of Britain’s built historical legacy”

Conservatives

• Would introduce a new ‘open source’ planning system. “This will mean that people in each neighbourhood will be able to specify the kind of development they want to see in their area,” manifesto says
• Would abolish regional spatial strategies and national and regional housebuilding targets
• Manifesto says that Tories would create a presumption in favour of sustainable development in the planning system
• Promises a faster approvals process for planning applications where neighbours raise no objections
• Says that appeals would be limited to cases that involve an abuse of process or a failure to apply the local plan
• Says that the Tories would abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and replace it with an efficient and democratically accountable system that provides a fast-track system for major infrastructure projects
• Manifesto pledges that all major infrastructure projects are considered at planning inquiries, which have binding timetables and which focus on planning issues, with final permission given by a minister
• Manifesto says that new local housing trusts would “allow communities to grant planning permission fro new housing within villages and towns”

Liberal Democrats
• Promises to close loopholes that allow playing fields to be sold off or built upon without going through the normal planning procedures
• Would require a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail developments
• Would abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and return decision making “including housing targets” to local people
• Says that the Lib Dems would create a “third party right of appeal” in cases where planning decisions go against locally agreed plans
• Create a new designation – similar to Site of Special Scientific Interest status – to protect green areas of particular importance or value to the community

Your verdict

You've now read what the manifestos have to say about planning (and housing, if you read last week's post). Let us know what you think of the respective parties' plans by commenting below. You can also vote in our poll (top right) to let us know which party's manifesto plans you think promise the most for regeneration.

Where they stand: Housing

Welcome to the first in our series of ‘where they stand’ pieces setting out the three main parties' manifesto pledges on a range of key regeneration-related issues. The first in our series examines what the manifestos say about housing.

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Election 2010 live blog: Conservative Party manifesto

Election 2010 live blog: Labour Party manifesto

Election 2010: The politicians to watch

Election 2010: Let us know what you want from the next government

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Labour

• Promises to work with housing associations to develop a new form of affordable housing targeted at “working families on modest incomes who struggle in the private sector and rarely qualify for social housing”
• Says the party would reform the council housing finance system to “enable authorities to maintain properties at Decent Homes standard and to build up to 10,000 council houses a year by the end of the next Parliament”
• Promises to enable more people to get on the housing ladder
• Housing benefit would be reformed to “ensure that we do not subsidise people to live in the private sector on rents that other working families could not afford”

Conservatives

• Promises to make it easier for people to get on the housing ladder and make it easier for social tenants to own or part-own their home
• Says the party would introduce a “foot on the ladder” scheme to offer an equity stake to “good” social tenants, which could be cashed in when they move out of social rented accommodation
• Says a Conservative government would pilot a new “right to move” scheme and introduce a social home swap programme so social tenants can transfer their tenancy to another home or part of the country
• Promises to “respect the tenures and rents of social housing tenants”

Liberal Democrats
• Pledges to bring 250,000 empty homes back into use with “cheap loans and grants”
• Investigate reforming public sector borrowing requirements to free councils to borrow money against their assets in order to build a “new generation of council homes”, and allow local authorities to keep the revenue from these new homes
• Says the party would reform the “unfair” housing revenue account system

The numbers

The words 'housing' and 'homes' are mentioned 39 times in the Labour Party's manifesto, 18 times in the Conservative Party's manifesto, and 28 times in the Lib Dem manifesto.

Your verdict

You've now read what the manifestos have to say about housing. Let us know what you think of the respective parties' plans by commenting below. You can also vote in our poll (top right) to let us know which party's manifesto plans you think promise the most for regeneration.

Election 2010: They said it

Regeneration may not have featured heavily in the three main parties' election manifestos, but has been mentioned by senior politicians from all parties during the election campaign. Read on for a selection of five regeneration-related quotes from the election campaign so far.

"A building in need of regeneration in a country in need of regeneration" Tory leader David Cameron makes reference to Battersea Power Station, where the Conservative Party's election manifesto was launched earlier this week. The manifesto itself only included two instances of the word regeneration, both on a page praising the renaissance of Manchester.

"pg 100 manifesto, a boxout on 'manchester' - praising the regeneration, lovely pic of Imp war museum - is there a single elected tory there” Channel 4 News economics editor Faisal Islam dissects the Tory election manifesto on micro-blogging site Twitter.

"I think regeneration spending is very very important - we have put money into regeneration and actually it’s had an effect - but as we look forward it isn't the biggest priority we face" Ed Miliband, the author of the Labour Party's election manifesto, tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme that spending on regeneration is a "lower priority". The Party's manifesto later says: "We will make savings in regeneration funding and focus on tackling worklessness."

“He looks down his rather long toffee nose at the regions” Business secretary Lord Mandelson attacks Tory leader David Cameron after shadow business secretary Ken Clarke told the Financial Times that the regional development agencies would, in their current form, be replaced.

"Fire up the power station ... it's time for change" Tory leader David Cameron sounds uncannily like Nicola Murray, a character in BBC political satire The Thick of It, as he launches his party's manifesto. Murray, the secretary of state installed in the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship in the BBC series, had said in an early conversation with her advisers: "Fire up the turbo chargers, set the phasers to equality ... it's Murray time!"

Poll result: Your verdict on Tory 'Big Society' plans

The results of our latest poll are now in. We asked you to vote on whether the Conservative Party's "Big Society" plans would boost neighbourhood renewal.

The main policies included in the party's "Big Society" paper - and which formed a key plank of the Tories' election manifesto, launched earlier this week at Battersea Power Station - included a pledge to create a "neighbourhood army" of 5,000 professional community organisers and a promise to set up a "big society bank" funded from cash in dormant bank accounts (similar to the Labour Government's plans for a social investment bank). Returns from the £215 million Futurebuilders loan fund would be diverted towards community groups in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, according to the policy paper.

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Election 2010 live blog: Conservative Party manifesto

Election 2010 live blog: Labour Party manifesto

Election 2010: The politicians to watch

Election 2010: Let us know what you want from the next government

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Seventy-four per cent of the 67 blog readers that voted said that the plans would not boost neighbourhood renewal, while 20 per cent of respondents said that the plans would boost neighbourhood renewal. Four per cent of respondents didn't know.

This trend was largely mirrored when we asked the same question on our website, with 16 per cent saying the plans would boost neighbourhood renewal, 73 per cent saying it would not and 11 per cent voting "don't know". Altogether we received nearly 200 votes.

Please comment below to let us know what you think of the results.

NEW POLL: Now that the three main parties have published their manifestos, we're asking you to give your verdict on their implications for regeneration. Vote in our poll, top right, to let us know which party's plans you think promise the most for regeneration.

Picture credit: Steve Cadman, Flickr

Election 2010 live blog: Conservative Party manifesto

The post is now closed. Scroll down for coverage of the Conservative Party manifesto as it happened.

16.22 David Coulter, deputy chief executive of Co-operatives UK, said: “Co‑operatives UK welcomes the central theme of the document - empowering people to take control of government and state services - and the interest expressed in co‑operatives.

"Co‑operatives are an ideal vehicle for empowerment as they encompass democracy, solidarity and working together. They encourage trust and offer people to have a genuine say in the services that matter to them."

14.48 UK Green Building Council chief executive Paul King said: "We welcome the fact that the Conservatives have highlighted fiscal reform and outlined a number of key financial measures to support a low carbon economy. The commitment to a Green Infrastructure Bank sends an important signal, though it should focus on funding energy efficiency and low carbon infrastructure as much as new technology start-ups."

14.18 Tom Foulkes, director general of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said: “We welcome the recognition that extensive and reliable infrastructure will underpin a rebalanced and low carbon economy and that continued investment in UK infrastructure is needed. The proposed Green Investment Bank, as in Labour’s manifesto, is a positive step and it is encouraging to see consensus on the need to find new ways to direct investment towards infrastructure.

“However there is little detail on how such a bank would attract the scale of investment needed to fulfil the Conservative’s vision for new infrastructure – from a new High Speed Rail network through to a fleet of new power stations. It is also important any new funding mechanism supports the roll out of existing infrastructure technology as well as new, green technology start ups."

12.46 Plaid Cymru has also published its manifesto today. It proposes a venture capital fund to help small businesses and includes plans for high-speed electrified railways. Read our coverage here.

12.42 The manifesto promises to boost the private sector's share of the economy in every region outside London and the South-East. It also confirms the Tory Party's plans to give councils and businesses the power to form their own business-led local enterprise partnerships to replace RDAs, with the caveat that "where local councils and businesses want to maintain regionally based enterprise partnerships, they will be able to". Read our story here.

12.37 We'd like to hear your reaction to the plans in the Conservative Party's manifesto. Let us know what you think by commenting below, or emailing jamie.carpenter@haymarket.com

12.15 Manifesto reaffirms the Conservative Party's commitment to scrap regional spatial strategies and regional and national building targets. Read our story here.

12.12 Cameron's speech now over. His parting shot: "People power, not state power. Big society not big government."

12.08 Cameron says that there is a real choice between Tories and Labour "on our society". A Labour government would mean "more big government", with the "poorest getting poorer" and inequality at record levels. He says: "These are social problems, they need a social response. It is time for a big society."

12.04 Cameron: "There is such a thing as society. It's just not the same thing as the state."

12.01 Cameron: "Let's say to people if you can work and turn down work you will not go on getting benefits."

11.59 Cameron: "We stand for society". He says that under a Conservative government communities would solve social problems that cause spending to rise.

11.56 Cameron: "We'll give you the power to take control of the local planning system ... we'll give you the power so you can take control."

11.52 Cameron now speaking. He says that Battersea Power Station is a "building in need of regeneration in a country in need of regeneration".

11.45 Shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman now speaking. She promises more power to local councils, more city mayors and to cut the number of quangos. She said that a Tory government would allow residents to take control over the size and shape of any building development in their area.

11.32 Michael Gove says inequality is getting wider. "We want to treat the symptoms of our social problems."

11.30 George Osborne now up. He says that Britain needs a new economic vision.

11.18 William Hague now on stage: "Battersea Power Station ripe for regeneration, just like our country." BBC says event is likely to last for around 90 minutes.

11.14 The shadow cabinet are on stage waiting for Cameron to speak. Everybody's Changing by Keane is playing in the background. We've now got hold of a copy of the manifesto. It's dark blue, sober looking and more than 100 pages long.

11.02 The Tories will be launching their election manifesto at Battersea Power Station.

10.35 Plaid Cymru is launching its election manifesto in Cardiff. More details soon.

09.49 You can read our live coverage of yesterday's launch of the Labour Party's election manifesto here. To recap, it pledged savings in regeneration spending, tougher action against antisocial behaviour and plans for mayoral referenda in statutory city-regions.

09.45 Plaid Cymru is also unveiling its election manifesto this morning. We'll bring you details of its contents as we receive them.

09.40 Today sees the launch of the Conservative Party's election manifesto (at the moment we're expecting it to be launched at around 11am). Stay tuned for details of the key regeneration-related measures in the document and reaction from the regeneration sector.

Election 2010 live blog: Labour Party manifesto

This post is now closed. Scroll down for coverage of the launch of the Labour Party's 2010 election manifesto as it happened.

16.40 David Coulter, deputy chief executive of Co-operatives UK, said: "Co-operatives UK welcomes the prominence that the Labour Party’s manifesto gives to co‑operatives and mutuals. We think it is better to allow people to do things for themselves and therefore welcome the Labour Party’s restated commitment to mutualisation in pubs and football clubs, following our campaigns on these issues, and to opening up new possibilities for co-operative business such as rail operation."

16.25 Dermot Finch, chief executive of the Centre for Cities think-tank, said: “It’s good to see plans for mayors with London-style powers across England’s largest city regions (in the Labour manifesto). We’ve been calling for ‘metro mayors’ over the past five years. Elected mayors would have a direct personal mandate to take difficult decisions across city regions about how to grow their economies. They would engage voters and provide strong leadership, accountability and strategic vision.”

15.51 Umbrella body the Community Development Finance Association has welcomed a line in the manifesto promising to increase lending in deprived communities, to be paid for by a levy on the banks. CDFA chief executive Bernie Morgan, said: “Labour has made a positive start. Now it’s time for the other parties to say ‘see you and raise you’. As well levying the banks, the next government should step up state funding for third sector lenders, as Obama’s administration has done."

15.10 Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said: “Labour is right to emphasise the wider benefits of a transition to a low-carbon economy in terms of fairness, security and new jobs in its manifesto. Sustainable living needs to be easy and affordable for everyone.

“We welcome the proposed introduction of the Green Investment Bank to invest in low-carbon infrastructure, the prominence given to legislating to introduce Pay As You Save schemes under which home energy efficiency improvements can be paid for from the savings they generate on energy bills, the commitment to require landlords to properly insulate rented homes, and to give local authorities new powers to develop local energy systems including district heating."

14.20 Stuart Etherington, chief executive of umbrella body the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, reacts to proposals in the manifesto, including plans to put the Compact Commission on a statutory footing. “Greater strength for the Compact and the promotion of schemes that allow communities greater control over local public buildings are great news for the sector but we would be concerned at any proposals to divert Lottery money away from voluntary organisations,” he says.

13.51 What do you think of the plans in the manifesto? Let us know your views by sending an email to jamie.carpenter@haymarket.com or commenting below.

13.50 Interesting. Manifesto contains plans to allow residents in statutory city-regions to trigger a referendum on whether to have a metro mayor.

12.43 Manifesto promises a reform of council housing finance system to enable councils to build "10,000 council houses a year by the end of the next parliament".

12.30 Manifesto says that regeneration policies have "transformed previously neglected communities". But it adds that "we will make savings in regeneration funding and focus on tackling worklessness, transforming the prospects of those areas most disconnected from the wider economy".

12.28 Have finally managed to download a copy of the manifesto. Will report back shortly with the key regeneration-related headlines.

12.06 Brown's speech is thin on detail - I guess the manifesto itself will contain more information. He finishes by promising to equip the British people for the future. "We are in the future business," he says.

12.04 PM promises tougher action on antisocial behaviour and a rising minimum wage.

11.55 Brown says manifesto's policies are rooted in the day-to-day concerns of the British people. The policies would make Britain "fairer, greener, more accountable and more prosperous", he says.

11.53 Brown begins his speech.

11.44 Brown has arrived, to cheers. BBC says that it has got a hard copy of the manifesto, which has Labour's election slogan, "A Future Fair for All", written across the top.

11.38 Members of the cabinet are filing in ahead of the manifesto launch. Applause.

11.05 Ed Miliband, author of the Labour Party manifesto, told this morning's Today programme that regeneration spending is a "low priority". "I think regeneration spending is very very important - we have put money into regeneration and actually it’s had an effect - but as we look forward it isn't the biggest priority we face when we face some other competing priorities," he said.

10.35 Yesterday's Sunday Mirror said that Gordon Brown would put a pledge to build 50,000 new council houses at the heart of the Labour Party's manifesto, which is due to be published later this morning.

10.30 The Financial Times also includes an interesting piece this morning on Labour's progress in meeting its 2005 manifesto pledges. It says that pledges to establish at least 200 academy schools by 2010 and to have a neighbourhood policing team in every community have been fulfilled. But targets to tackle child poverty and increase home ownership have been missed, according to the newspaper.

10.25 The Financial Times says that the manifesto will include the creation of a £4 billion “UK Finance for Growth” fund – mainly financed by the private sector – to help start-ups and a commitment to a range of supply-side measures including high-speed rail and a roll-out of broadband.

10.20 Daily Telegraph reports that the Labour manifesto will include a promise of new laws to let individuals apply for antisocial behaviour orders. The newspaper also reports that Labour would guarantee a 24-hour response to any complaint of antisocial behaviour.

10.10 Apparently Ed Miliband, the author of the Labour Party's manifesto, told the Today programme this morning that regeneration and legal aid were a low priority.

10.05 Later this morning the Labour Party will launch its manifesto. Stay tuned for details of the key policies contained in the document and reaction from the regeneration sector.

Election 2010: What to make of Tory national citizen service plans?

Yesterday Tory leader David Cameron announced his plans for a 'national citizen service' for 16-year-olds. He even managed to get Michael Caine along to back the scheme - which was a bit cringeworthy simply because it was such an obvious choice (note Caine's own childhood spent growing up on a south London estate and his recent role in Harry Brown, which tells the story of youth gang crime in Elephant & Castle).

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Election 2010: The politicians to watch

Election 2010: Give your verdict on Tory 'Big Society' plans

Election 2010: Let us know what you want from the next government

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According to Cameron, this citizen service scheme (NCS) would be a voluntary two-month summer programme of "social action" that all 16-year-olds would be given the opportunity to take part in. Activities would include things like helping the elderly and other useful tasks intended to support the local community - although the document outlining NCS is quite thin on specific examples. In a speech yesterday, Cameron said that the programme would "instil a sense of social responsibility in young adults, re-engage disadvantaged young people and encourage people from different backgrounds and ethnicities to mix together".

But, as much as I agree with the principles of it all, I'm just not sure it would work. For a start, Cameron's plans to divert money from existing government schemes aimed at boosting community cohesion in deprived areas is dubious at best. The NCS is meant to be open to all 16-year-olds - not just those growing up in disadvantaged families and neighbourhoods. To use money intended to support people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods is surely not right - even if there is a need for a wider government programme to engage everyone in social action?

Also, the plans do not seem to have taken into consideration the potential difficulties in making disengaged, "problem" kids interested in the programme. Yesterday Cameron talked at length about how he didn't want the scheme to become compulsory - instead he wanted it to be viewed as a "rite of passage" for young people; something that they would expect to do "as they would expect to take GCSEs" - " I want it to be compelling and attractive in its own right," he said.

I'm not saying this type of programme should be made compulsory - from past conversations with people who work in the voluntary sector most believe it would be extremely counter-productive to force people to volunteer as it goes against everything the sector stands for - but it certainly seems idealistic at best to hope that young people would want and "expect" to enrol on a social action programme, especially when the party hasn't produced any clear strategy for encouraging them to do so. It also assumes a certain amount of parental guidance perhaps, and a pre-existing desire to help others and get involved in a very tightly structured national programme - which is not everyone's cup of tea and could end up excluding people further (see page 9 of the party's NCS document - it looks pretty rigidly organised to me).

Then again, I could be wrong - maybe this is just what people need. We're tracking down the evaluations of the pilot schemes that Cameron is basing his ideas on so we can find out how successful they were. Watch this space.

Picture credit: Sunlight Development Trust

Election 2010: let us know what you want from the next government

An interesting feature in yesterday's Society Guardian asked social policy experts from a range of public services and charities to set out what they want from a new government. In the article, Sarah Webb, chief executive of professional body the Chartered Institute of Housing, says that the next Government "must prioritise housing or our wider recovery will take longer and be more painful". Stephen Bubb, chief executive of third sector umbrella body the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, meanwhile, calls for the future government to "commit to developing a thriving social investment market based on a powerful social investment bank".

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Election 2010: the politicians to watch

Election 2010: give your verdict on Tory 'Big Society' plans

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We'd like to hear what regeneration practitioners would like the next administration to prioritise. Is there a new policy you'd like to see introduced that you think would boost regeneration in your area? Or would you like to see a particular programme protected from future public spending cuts?

Please let us know the policies you'd like to see implemented by a new government by commenting below.

Election 2010: give your verdict on Tory 'Big Society' plans

Last week Tory leader David Cameron launched a policy paper setting out what he described as plans to create "a society where the leading force for progress is social responsibility, not state control". The main policies included in the "Big Society" paper included a pledge to create a "neighbourhood army" of 5,000 professional community organisers and a promise to set up a "big society bank" funded from cash in dormant bank accounts (similar to the Labour Government's plans for a social investment bank). Returns from the £215 million Futurebuilders loan fund would be diverted towards community groups in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, according to the policy paper.

Given the Conservative Party's emphasis on "Broken Britain", Cameron's Big Society plans are certain to form a key plank of the party's election campaign over the coming weeks. They have received a mixed reaction from the regeneration sector - a selection of views are copied below:

"While we agree that governments cannot change deep seated social problems alone, neither can communities. Anyone who has worked in communities will understand that requiring the 5000 community organisers to raise their own salaries will severely limit the impact of the programme – we find it very hard to fund our own small team, as many funders want quick measurable outcomes, not long term change." Geraldine Blake, chief executive, Community Links

"We welcome the Conservatives’ intention to galvanise neighbourhood renewal and social action and their commitment that charities and voluntary groups will play a leading role in achieving this. We are delighted they have reiterated their support for a Social Investment Wholesale Bank, or an independent Big Society Bank as they call it. It will be vital in generating finance for voluntary and community groups in delivering their services." Stuart Etherington, chief executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations

"Handing over provision to 'the community' is not a panacea. What happens if there are no volunteers, or when the supply runs out? If the grants run out, or they can't balance the books? What happens if the facility is taken over by an unrepresentative group using it to push their own agenda? Local people getting involved can enrich communities and add a huge amount to basic provision. When it works well it's wonderful, but it's the icing on the cake." Tony Greaves, Liberal Democrat, House of Lords

We'd like to know what you think of the proposals. You can let us know your views by voting in our poll (top right) and commenting below.

Election 2010: the politicians to watch

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has today confirmed that the UK's general election will be held on 6 May. The election campaign will now begin in earnest, featuring, for the first time, live televised debates between the leaders of the three main political parties.

But who are the key politicians that will be putting forward their parties' regeneration-related policies in the run-up to polling day? And what are their chances of being re-elected? Today we take a look at the three main parties' communities and local government teams.

LABOUR PARTY

The Labour Government's communities and local government team is headed by John Denham (pictured left), who became communities secretary in 2009. He has been MP for Southampton Itchen since 1992 and

has a majority of 9,302 votes. Follow John Denham on Twitter here.

John Healey was appointed housing minister in June 2009, but had joined the Department for Communities and Local Government two years earlier as local government minister. Healey has been MP for Wentworth in South Yorkshire since 1997 and has a majority of 15,056 votes.

Rosie Winterton is minister for local government at the DCLG and holds the regional economic development at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. She took on the role in June 2009. Winterton was elected MP for Doncaster central in 1997 and has a majority of 9,802 votes.

Shahid Malik was appointed a DCLG minister in June 2009. His responsibilities include the Thames Gateway growth area and community cohesion. Malik was elected MP for Dewsbury in West Yorkshire in 2005. Following boundary changes Malik will defend a notional majority of 3,999 and pollsters are classing the seat as marginal - it is Conservative target seat number 95. Follow Shahid Malik on Twitter here.

Barbara Follett joined the DCLG as a junior minister in September 2009. Her responsibilities include local government finance, strengthening local democracy and empowerment. She has been MP for Stevenage since 1997 and has a majority of 3,139.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

The Conservative Party's shadow communities and local government team is led by Caroline Spelman (pictured left), who was named shadow communities secretary in January last year, succeeding Eric Pickles. She has been MP for Meriden in the West Midlands since 1997 and has a majority of 7,009 votes.

Grant Shapps is the Conservative Party's shadow housing minister. He entered parliament as MP for Welwyn Hatfield in 2005 and has a majority of 5,946 votes. Follow Grant Shapps on Twitter here.

Baroness Warsi, who became a peer in 2007, is the shadow minister for community cohesion and social action. Bookmakers Ladbrokes currently has Warsi as 21/1 to be the next home secretary.

Shadow regeneration minister Stewart Jackson entered parliament as MP for Peterborough in 2005 and has a majority of 2,740 votes. Follow Stewart Jackson on Twitter here.

Bob Neill is shadow minister for local government and planning. He is MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, entering parliament in a 2006 by-election. Neill has a majority of just 633 votes, but boundary changes, taking in part of Orpington, mean that the new seat has a notional Tory majority of 8,236.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PARTY

Julia Goldsworthy (pictured left) became the Lib Dems' shadow communities and local government secretary in 2007. She entered parliament in 2005, gaining her Falmouth and Camborne seat from Labour. Goldsworthy will be standing in the new seat of Camborne and Redruth and has a notional majority of 2,733. Her seat is target seat number 39 for the Labour Party. Follow Julia Goldsworthy on Twitter here.

Sarah Teather is the Lib Dems' housing spokesperson. Her Brent East seat has disappeared following boundary changes and she faces an uphill battle for the new seat of Brent Central against Labour's Dawn Butler. In the new seat, Labour has a notional majority of 7,469 votes. Follow Sarah Teather on Twitter here.