<b><b>Alex Ely, housing co-ordinator at the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, argues that the most important issue in John Prescott&amp;’s drive to provide new homes is good design. And, he says, when the industry gets design wrong, it plays into the hands of the nimby</b></b><br><b>The government&amp;’s comprehensive spending review and housing statement will be good news to the housebuilder. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called for 200,000 new homes to be built in four growth areas in the south east plus extensive housing market renewal in the north of England. He has promised to speed up the planning system; something that will delight housebuilders frustrated by the current process. </b><br><b>I would like to raise a note of caution, however, for the volume housebuilders hoping to get a piece of the action. The press has made little mention of the fact that the Deputy Prime Minister has demanded &amp;“a new standard in how we build houses and communities, seeking improvements in density, design, environmental standards and construction techniques&amp;”. It is this demand for quality that, I believe, will be the single most important issue for those who want to secure some of this work. </b><br><b><b>design conditions</b></b><br> Planning departments …