New advice has been given to those with housing jobs in regards to the planning and construction of affordable property developments, it has been revealed.

Speaking at the annual National Housing Federation (NHF) conference, Wayne Hemingway, chair of Building for Life, commented on the launch of a new guide - "Achieving Building for Life" - which explains some of the various technical terms and concepts involved with such housing projects.

Steve Douglas, chief executive of the Housing Corporation, claimed that reaching standards of high quality design is a key requirement of the organisation’’s investment programme and is "a core objective of the new Homes and Communities Agency".

Meanwhile, Mr Hemingway claimed that publication will help those working for housing associations to take the lead in "delivering great places to live, work and play".

Building for Life is the national benchmark for English housing developments, with those properties built following investment from the Housing Corporation’’s £8.4 billion 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme required to meet such standards.

Earlier this month, Neil Griffiths, spokesperson for the NHF, commended plans to give housing associations more money to carry on building homes during the credit crunch.

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