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His plans include extending the number of homes that are to be built by 2020 to 3 million, some 250,000 more than previously planned. The Prime Minister was keen to stress that these should not be at the cost of the Green Belt. To facilitate the use of brownfield sites, the Government is trawling through its own estates to see what can be made available.

To date, the Prime Minister said, 550 government owned sites have been identified for redevelopment. He also announced that English Partnerships is working with the Ministry of Defence to regenerate 6 sites.

Other than promote the use of brownfield sites, the Prime Minister did not announce any further initiatives that would ensure that houses are to be built to the highest eco-standard. However, the purpose of today's announcement anticipates the publication of a public discussion paper (Green Paper) which will be published next week.

Responding to the Prime Minister's legislative plans, Greenpeace director John Sauven said:

?Brown's housing plans need to make zero-carbon houses the norm and not the exception. If such legislation doesn't force new housing projects to be zero-carbon now, it will be a failure.

?As we embark on a major house-building programme, massive projects like that at Thames Gateway, just east of London, are a huge opportunity to tackle rather than inflame global warming.?

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