好色先生TV magazine on how the government is delivering much-needed housing. This government is the first for 15 years to be committed to a step change in housing, sustainable development and place-making. Its strategy took another important step forward last week when three major announcements were made.

First, a draft of a green belt direction was issued for public consultation, proposing that all development larger than 1000 m2 should be referred to the ODPM.

Second, a planning obligations circular was issued. This maintains the good sense of the previous circular in requiring planning obligations to be reasonable, necessary and proportionate to the development being applied for and its consequences. It also introduces some useful procedures such as pooled contributions. It does not introduce taxation in the form of a planning gain supplement, as advocated by Kate Barker, or the optional planning charge or tariff previously the subject of earlier consultation. Both of these would have serious repercussions for the delivery of additional housing.

Finally, and most importantly, a consultation paper entitled Planning for Housing was published. This recognises the three key challenges caused by low and declining housing provision: worsening affordability, land supply constraints and the need to respond more rapidly and effectively to the housing market.

A number of solutions are proposed that will be supported by many in the industry, including the need for local development frameworks to make provision for 15 years鈥� supply of housing land, of which five years must be available for development. This is part of a process started by John Prescott in July 2002 when he rightly castigated all political parties for failing to deliver adequate housing for the past 30 years.

Consultation on Planning for Housing runs until 9 September and all those with a genuine interest in a step change in housing provision should respond positively. But this is only part of the solution. The ODPM will need to deal robustly with the East of England and South East England Regional Assemblies, who continue to set low housing requirements for their areas.

The planning inspectors鈥� report in June into the West Oxfordshire local plan is a case in point. In the report the requirement for 800 dwellings has been brushed under the carpet.

There are some positive signs. Recent resolutions to grant or actual permissions cover 5000 dwellings at Corby in Northamptonshire, more than 6000 dwellings at one of the Thames Gateway鈥檚 most important regeneration sites at Eastern Quarry near Dartford and the 50-storey residential tower at St George Wharf in central London.

An ODPM decision on the allocated site at West Stevenage in the M11 growth area is awaited. The scheme meets the government鈥檚 agenda by providing a sustainable mixed-use community with strong public transport links to the nearby Stevenage town centre, its major employment areas have been excluded from the green belt, and it meets all its infrastructure needs by a series of planning obligations in accordance with the new circular.

The proposals made last week can become an early reality through positive decisions by the ODPM and the Labour government.

Gareth Capner is joint senior partner of Barton Willmore Planning Partnership