EP's replacement will make purchases for regeneration

English Partnerships has said that it will continue to buy land for regeneration projects “where this is necessary” and that the planned new housing and regeneration body Communities England will take a similar approach.

Trevor Beattie, EP’s southern region director and one of the nine-strong transitional committee responsible for deciding Communities England’s powers, said the ability to buy land would remain an important part of the new agency.

“Communities England will be as proactive as English Partnerships in purchasing land where this is necessary to achieve high-quality sustainable regeneration and development,” he said.

But Beattie added that purchasing land “is not always necessary… to achieve successful regeneration”.

Under DCLG plans, Communities England is expected to become operational in 2009 and replace the Housing Corporation and EP.