English Partnerships gives Carbon Challenge projects makeover

English Partnerships (EP) is scaling back future plans for its Carbon Challenge projects to make them more attractive to struggling builders.

The national regeneration agency has already downgraded the size of its sites across England and could use its own money to fund basic site works to attract developers.

The group is looking at its finances with a view to putting serviced blocks out to tender with basic utilities, such as street lighting, already installed.

EP director of policy and economics Steve Carr said the agency had been forced to reassess how to market its sites after pleas by major housebuilders and problems with existing projects.

He said it had scaled-back sites out for tender, with most having a capacity ranging from 12 homes to 60 homes, but with a few larger 750-strong parcels of land also up for grabs.