<b></b> The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) is joining forces with the House Builders Federation and the Civic Trust on an initiative to improve the quality of housing design.<br> CABE and HBF are to prepare a joint statement of intent and agree common principles on good design.<p></p><p> &amp;"CABE is committed to working in partnership with the HBF in order to tackle the problems of low quality and poorly designed housing,&amp;" said CABE chief executive Jon Rouse. &amp;"CABE will be learning from the HBF the economic reality of the process, whilst the HBF needs to take on board the importance and value of design principles. Recent planning decisions by John Prescott have shown that housebuilders must now invest in quality designs to be sure of getting planning permission.&amp;" </p><p>Last month Rouse called on housebuilders to undertake more rigorous analysis of issues such as public transport, pedestrian access, community facilities and the relationships between internal and external space.</p><p></p>