Taylor Vinters - Solicitors

Councils looking to develop more social house building projects could enjoy greater freedoms under proposed government rules.

The Communities and Local Government department has outlined a number of proposals in its Future of Building Control Implementation Plan, which might cut red tape for local authorities.

Under the plans, builders working on less complex projects would be subject to fewer inspections, in order to let them get on with their jobs.

Meanwhile, the government is also hoping to limit the number of changes it makes to building regulations from 2010, so that amendments can only be made every three years.

It is hoped this could provide more certainty for house builders and councils about the legislation relating to them.

Lord McKenzie, building regulations minister, said: "These changes help us to tackle long-term challenges. A growing population and the need to tackle climate change mean we need to build more homes and to ever higher standards of safety and sustainability."

Housing minister John Healey recently outlined separate plans to ensure council homes are allocated more fairly to people in future.