It is time for the industry to show more imagination, more courage and more leadership to dispel the myth that new housing means environmental degradation according to NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi. <p></p><p>He told developers at the British Housebuilder Awards that there is a danger of two parallel policy debates arising. &amp;“One about housing need in which everyone agrees we need more affordable housing, the other about building to meet this need in which housing is seen as a blight and in which concern for the environment requires putting up ever more sophisticated barriers to development. </p><p> &amp;“We cannot allow the equation of housing with environmental degradation to persist,&amp;” he added.</p><p>He pointed out that areas of Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and Cardiff had been transformed by &amp;“the creative energy, vision and courage of developers working in partnership with local and central Government. The same potential exists outside our cities,&amp;” he said. </p><p>* Urban regeneration schemes need private sector &amp;“champions&amp;” to drive them forward or they risk floundering due to a lack of commitment and investment. That was the key message emerging from the Innovative Regeneration conference held last month in Southampton.</p><p></p>