The man behind the explosion in housing reports and lobbying at CABE has quit to join a specialist housing architect.

Alex Ely, the author of The Home Buyer’s Guide, has left to go to architect mæ, and will specialise in housing, Urban Design and policy.

Ely has led CABE’s work on housing and neighbourhood policy and best practice and advised the government on a wide range of housing issues.

He was a key player on housing standards, working with the ODPM, English Partnerships, CABE and the Housing Corporation on Standards Synthesis and the Code for Sustainable Buildings.

He is also a member of the Housing Forum’s Modern Methods of Construction group advising the DTI over sustainable and cheap design.

The Home Buyer’s Guide was written to provide buyers with a list of key questions to ask when buying a home.

Ely’s work on the Building for Life Standard was also adopted by deputy prime minister John Prescott in his five-year plan.