Lack of leadership and planning is putting the government’s plans for tens of thousands of new homes at risk, the National Audit Office has warned.
The failure of the Department for Communities and Local Government to produce a fully-costed plan means the multi-billion pound Thames Gateway scheme is behind schedule, the watchdog said on Wednesday.
The government wants to see 160,000 new homes built in the Thames estuary and east London before 2016 and has spent an estimated £7bn so far on creating a 'world class' location for living and working.
But while about 24,000 homes were built been 2001 and 2005, the rate of increase has been slower than the rest of southern England and will need to double if the target of 160,000 homes is to be met.
Community secretary Ruth Kelly’s department needs to demonstrate "stronger leadership", the NAO said.
There needs to be a "step-change" in co-ordination with regional and local agencies if the necessary infrastructure is to be delivered and a fully-costed plan to join up local initiatives, central government and funding.
"Without such a plan, it is difficult to provide an overall picture of what needs to be done and identify the additional investment needed to help ensure resources are targeted at critical projects," the report said.
The NAO also said it was unclear how promises of thousands of 'green' homes were to be fulfilled without quantifiable objectives to measure progress against.
Edward Leigh, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, said the Thames Gateway was "looking more and more like an expensive daydream".
"Bold, large-scale schemes which are not backed up with detailed planning, proper co-ordination of all the different bodies involved and strong management are likely to end up wasting billions of pounds of public money," he said.
"This is a programme that will have an impact on the area for generations. The DCLG must take matters in hand now or the Thames Gateway regeneration scheme will go the way of other ambitious but ill-planned projects."
Thames Gateway chief executive Judith Armitt, who was appointed in November, said the scheme was on track with a full delivery plan would due to be ready later this year.
"There are big challenges ahead but there is now a relentless focus across the Gateway to deliver this vital economic project in a stunning environmental setting, involving and including local communities," she said.
