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Rosie Winterton, minister for local government, has signed a programme to give Leeds and its regions more power over housing, planning and regeneration.

The Leeds City Partnership pilot programme brings together 11 councils, regional partners and central government to create a devolved housing and regeneration board.

London has a similar board which is chaired by the mayor, Boris Johnson, although part of the Homes and Communities Agency.

Winterton said the board would allow the city region to take control of this vitally important agenda. It will collaborate with local partners to deliver low-carbon communities and will strive to make the area a centre of excellence in sustainable design and innovation.

This pilot will play a crucial role in tackling the fallout from the downturn.

The partnership pilot will oversee the creation of 28,000 code-level homes in the region and regenerate brownfield land in Bradford, Leeds, Kirklees and York.

Meanwhile, the pilot will create a drive to retrofit 300,000 properties and help lift 50,000 households out of fuel poverty.

Another pilot for the Greater Manchester region is set to be unveiled shortly.