Following on from the confirmation that a Chief Construction Adviser (CCA) is to be appointed (see news article 10/9/09 Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has announced the establishment of a Construction Innovation and Growth Team (IGT). The team will carry out a review to assess the strengths of, and opportunities for, the UK construction industry in a low carbon economy, and consider how the UK can become a world leader in this sector. The Review will be undertaken by a mix of industry experts and those with wider business experience. Keith Clarke, Chief Executive of Atkins, will chair the Review in an interim basis until the CCA is appointed. In addition to this, the Housing Minister John Healey has recently announced new council house and affordable house building programmes as part of the government’s £1.5 billion housing pledge. The £127m council house building programme, covering 47 areas, is expected to be the biggest of its kind for the past 20 years. More than 2000 homes are to be built with 12 council housing projects in the Midlands, 7 in the North West, 6 in London, 6 in Yorkshire and Humber, 6 in the South West, 5 in the North East, 4 in the South East and one in eastern England. The Housing Minister also announced £250 million funding to provide 3,400 affordable homes. The funding will be shared between 43 housing associations and other bodies operating across 97 local authority areas. More than four in five will be built for low cost rent and the remainder will be for first time buyers.