Some of Britain's most deprived areas are set to receive £800 million to rebuild blighted neighbourhoods.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott announced that 88 local councils would get the cash over two years to improve housing and increase urban regeneration.

Prescott said the money was part of a new phase in efforts to turn around poor areas.

Forum Response: Construction Products Association

Allan Wilen, economics director of the CPA, told ePolitix.com: "For years organisations have been campaigning for government to make use of their surplus land. We therefore welcome the decision to create a register, but government must then act to put the identified property to productive use. Land should either be redeveloped as affordable housing or sold and the funds raised used to fund social housing elsewhere in the capital.

"The 80,000 affordable homes that could be built on the surplus land are desperately needed - Shelter estimate that around 24,000 to 25,000 new affordable homes need to be built each year.

"It is therefore imperative that homes are made quickly available and that the 80,000 properties are not brought on stream over a period of 10 to 20 years.

"Where redevelopment is unlikely in the short term, the government should repair empty properties to provide short-life housing for those in need."

Forum Response: English Nature

David Knight, urban advisor for English Nature, told ePolitix.com: "English Nature recognises the demand for housing in London and the South East and the implications for affordability this has for essential workers and others. We support the government's prioritisation of previously developed land for accommodating new housing and this clearly includes land in the ownership of government departments.

"Through its 'Living Places' report and planning policy guidance on open space, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has acknowledged the vital importance of open spaces in making towns and cities liveable, of which contact with the nature is a part.

"The ODPM considers previously developed land to exclude those sites where the remnants of past development have blended into the landscape over time, or where nature conservation or other interests could outweigh their re-use.

"English Nature supports this guidance to local planning authorities in considering the re-use of previously developed land and would expect the government to endorse decisions which reflect this, regardless of the land ownership."