New plans by the Government should keep money flowing into the construction industry.

A White Paper, Our Towns & Cities: the Future, proposes packages for urban renewal worth £1billion over five years.

Among the proposals are more money and flexibility for Regional Development Agencies, up to 12 new Urban Regeneration Companies and five more Millennium Villages.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has earmarked almost £27million for regeneration work in 33 towns and cities.

And Even Chancellor Gordon Brown has joined in by supporting some of the proposals for changes in VAT in Lord Rogers\' urban taskforce report. The Chancellor says he supports the idea of a reduction of VAT on property conversions.