An action plan, Delivering sustainable development, requires new developments to contribute to global sustainability by addressing the causes and potential impacts of climate change. Development plans and individual planning decisions should also ‘support the promotion of health and wellbeing, deliver safe, healthy and attractive places to live and seek to enhance the environment of the area’.

A drive to cut building costs, reduce carbon emissions and develop the professional skills needed for sustainable homes and communities will be spearheaded by a new Leeds-based Academy for Sustainable Communities.

The academy will focus on integrated skills and will work with similar bodies like the Congress for New Urbanism in the USA. A voluntary code for sustainable construction will be piloted in the Thames Gateway this year and rolled out in 2006.

Also at the summit, Grange Park estate in Blackpool won the Sustainable Communities National Award. Inter-agency work on the estate over recent years has tackled drug use, litter and noise nuisance and created attractive spaces from former no-go areas.

The English Partnerships stand included a demonstration townhouse built at a cost of £60,000. Mr Prescott challenged housebuilders to match it across the country. The house was constructed from pre-manufactured modules.