A rite of passage for all new housing ministers in the past decade has been a visit to the new community of Houlton near Rugby. It is the site of what will become more than 6,000 well-designed homes, set in 1,200 acres of open space on former BT land, with an award-winning secondary school.

What makes this more than just another housing estate is the belief by its master developer that such a large-scale project is the key to tackling the homes shortage, especially in England's South East, and addressing voter opposition to new build by creating inspiring developments that add to, rather than denigrate, the environment.