Far reaching changes see Housing Corporation and English Partnerships replaced by new Communities England agency

English partnerships and the Housing Corporation have merged to create a new body responsible for pushing through the government鈥檚 housing policy.

Communities England will take over the responsibilities of EP, the Housing Corporation and some work carried out by the Department for Local Government and Communities including decent homes, housing market renewal, PFI and urban regeneration.

The government did not say who will lead the new agency.

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly said: 鈥淲ith the expectation of over 拢4bn of public spending at its disposal, Communities England will pioneer innovative and more efficient ways of working with our key partners in the public, private and voluntary sector to get better outcomes from public investment in places."

Kelly said the agency woudl be better value for money and would guarantee high standards of quality, design, energy efficiency and sustainability.