Background
The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) is being set up in response to recommendations made to Government in Kate Barker's review of Housing Supply in March 2004. The review identified a substantial under-supply of houses against demand, leading to long term affordability problems. The Government accepted the central conclusion of the Review that there should be a step-change in housing supply.
The Government also accepted the need for independent advice on housing supply and market affordability to be provided to the nine English regional housing and planning bodies to inform the evidence base for regional strategies and support decision making. In September 2004 the Government consulted on its proposal to establish an independent unit to provide expert analytical support to the regions. Following this, the Government response to Barker in December 2005 gave a commitment to set up the Unit by Autumn 2006. The NHPAU is being set up in line with this commitment. It will provide advice to Government and the nine English regions on the implications of the Government's ambitions for housing affordability and supply for the level and broad distribution of future house building.
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