David Miliband appears to be the opposite of John Prescott, but the deputy prime minister and his second in command have a shared view of regeneration. Gwyn Roberts meets the new man at the ODPM.This ‘do or die’ attitude is typical of Miliband. He is known for his aversion to confusing initiatives and is even said to have privately described the ‘third way’, the idea at the heart of New Labour, as lightweight. It is the sort of no-nonsense approach that could lead to the abolition of some of the numerous regeneration bodies and working groups clinging to the Thames Gateway, or even to the complete amputation of one of the growth areas. Miliband denies this, and rejects as ‘Stalinism’ the possibility of one body calling the shots in the Thames Gateway. However, he also believes that ‘things need to be streamlined and well organised if they are to be effective’. Crucially he admits that continued activity in these south-east growth areas depends on the government and private sector agreeing on the provision of infrastructure. He refers to the responsibility of making sure ‘housing ambitions are aligned properly with health, transport and educational ambitions’. Cherry, a veteran developer, trusts Miliband’s judgement. ‘From my meeting with David it became clear that he quickly grasped that infrastructure is hugely important to the success of the growth areas,’ he says. ‘We accept that at least 90% of the money for these regions will come from the private sector. It is only fair that the government needs to contribute the rest.’ Any announcement of further government plans to provide the growth areas with the necessary infrastructure is likely to come in the ODPM’s imminent response to the Barker report. Miliband’s department still staunchly stands by the report’s findings, even within the context of a cooling housing market and falling prices. 09.09.2005 By Gwyn Roberts of Property Week
David Miliband |
