If Government wants to build the next generation of high-quality, low-carbon homes, it should look to the Core Cities which are the key to levelling up their surrounding areas. At present, too many promising sites across our city centres lie undeveloped. These could instead be new communities full of modern, green homes, suitable for our growing city populations, built using the expertise and innovation that is a feature of our cities.

In my city of Newcastle, for example, we have been working on an Annuity Lease Back Model. The scheme procures a partner to enter into a lease agreement with the council for a period of 40 years to finance, design and build new homes.