An agreement has been reached to transfer over 100 surplus NHS sites to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The land will be used to tackle housing shortages, including key worker housing, and to promote the regeneration of priority areas, as part of the £22 billion Sustainable Communities Plan.

Government Response: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

John Prescott, deputy prime minister, said: "This deal shows our determination to deliver more affordable homes where they are needed most, especially for key workers and young families.

"It will unlock major brownfield sites, secure more than 15,000 new homes, and kick-start regeneration as part of a comprehensive programme to create thriving and sustainable communities across all regions of England.

"We are committed to protecting the countryside from the blight of urban sprawl, through reviving brownfield land for development. That's why we are taking a new approach across government to make sure the best possible use is made of surplus public sector land.

"The challenge is to ensure these sites provide the quality housing, infrastructure and investment vital to building places that stand the test of time. I want the developments which take place on these important sites to be exemplar projects leading the way in demonstrating best practice in creating genuinely sustainable communities."

Forum Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Alison Johnston, senior professional officer for the Professional Association of Teachers, said: "We welcome this help for teachers, although it will have only a limited effect. Finding affordable accommodation is an increasing financial burden for many of our members, especially newly qualified teachers.

"Soaring house prices, particularly in London and the South East, are making it difficult for schools to find staff, as many teachers and support staff cannot afford to live near to where they work. We know that teachers are leaving London for a 'better standard of living' elsewhere.

"We are also concerned that classroom assistants, nursery nurses and other childcarers who play a key role in the education and care of our children won't be included in this scheme.

"We have already raised our concerns about the Deputy Prime Minister's Key Worker Living Scheme, which offers some key workers such as teachers help with housing costs. The government's exclusion of nursery nurses and other childcare workers from that scheme is at odds with its commitment to increase the childcare workforce dramatically to implement the national childcare strategy. 

"There is an acute shortage of childcare staff in many areas and high housing costs play a part in this. If the government wants more people to work in childcare, it needs to help them to find affordable accommodation.

"Most of our nursery nurses members don't earn enough money to get on the first rung of the housing ladder and many are having to do two or three jobs just to make ends meet.

"Unless the government addresses this issue, it won't be able to deliver the national childcare strategy.

"We would like to see an extension of the Key Worker Living Scheme to include all those who are in particular need of housing help because of their lower salaries."