Design investment in growth areas announced

CABE's enabling programme will provide design and development advice to 48 infrastructure schemes in housing growth areas.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has announced almost £300m of funding for more than 85 vital infrastructure schemes that will support new housing in growth areas. And in a significant indication of the government's commitment to high quality design, money is being provided specifically so that funded schemes can access design advice at an early stage from CABE's enabling programme.

The advice from CABE will cover 48 of the schemes, and it aims not only to help ensure high quality development, but also to embed principles of quality design and enhance skills across the organisations delivering in the growth areas.

One example is the Parkland Gateway project in Corby, where CABE will provide design advice on proposals to provide a new civic, cultural and educational heart to the town, and on the design, management and maintenance of the town centre park. Similarly at Harlow, CABE will provide advice on design and development briefs for housing and retail developments at a number of neighbourhood centres.

Commenting on the announcement, Jonathan Davis, Acting Director of enabling, said:

'For all those who believe that high quality design has to be at the heart of housing growth, this is encouraging news. CABE will be working to ensure that this investment results in attractive, functional and sustainable development which benefits new and existing communities alike. Indeed, we've already done work with some of these projects, and progress so far is encouraging.'