The government's plans to redevelop swathes of housing in the nine northern pathfinder areas are continuing to come under fire from residents determined to resist the proposed demolition of up to 400,000 houses. Groups across the north of England have joined forces to establish Housing Under Threat, and claim to have more than 50 members from Liverpool, Lancashire, Hull, Oldham and Manchester. <p></p><p>RICS director of policy Michael Chambers said that some demolition was necessary. "The crucial thing is to look at the reasons that housing has collapsed in an area. If industry and jobs have gone people won't want live there. Where new industry is coming you can look at refurbishment." </p><p>But Sylvia Wilson, a campaigner based in Pendle, Lancashire, says: "The basic premise is based on 1991 census data. In the last two years, we have seen the market steadily go up in most pathfinder areas."</p>