As the election fades from public consciousness, things are just beginning to heat up for David Miliband and Yvette Cooper, who have been assigned to work with John Prescott to deliver his policy priorities: to boost housing supply and first-time buyer levels. It’s no surprise – and good news for the industry – that the government has selected a couple of rising stars to take up the challenge, and having an extra MP giving housing a voice in cabinet is a bonus. <p></p><p>One of the first brainteasers for the new administration will be to work out how to deal with the swathe of Conservative councils in the south east who will be only too glad to support nimbys’ desires to stymie housing growth plans. Picking a path through pathfinder sensitivities is another area in which the new team will need to take a delicate approach (not one of Prescott’s specialties). </p><p><b>red tape</b> </p><p>The usual issues are still grating on housebuilders’ nerves, with regulatory red tape high on the agenda – the likely introduction of airtightness testing under New Part L being a perfect example of the increasing number of hoops that need to be hula’d through. While red tape is …