On the day the country goes to the polls, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles and his coalition partner Stephen Williams defend their government record in exclusive interviews with Estates Gazette.
Pickles (pictured) said that although the CLG had produced “essentially Conservative policies since 2010”, he said working as a coalition had prohibited him from extending office-to-residential planning reforms.
What he was proud of was the Localism Act, which he called a “landmark piece of law”. He said: “The general power of competence is untapped in many councils but will have a significant long-term effect.”
Williams, the Liberal Democrats’ minister for Communities and Local Government, said his main achievements in government were improving energy 
efficiency in building regulations and housing standards.
He did, however, express regret over the bedroom tax, saying: “Where there are no suitable units of smaller accommodation available, then it is unfair to penalise tenants.”
Both were confident that the right steps had been made to address the housing crisis. Pickles pointed to the more than doubling of housing construction orders since 2009. He said: “Conservatives will ensure stability, proportionate regulation and economic confidence to help the housing industry.”
Williams agreed that a good start had been made on house building but conceded that the current rate is not enough. He said: “The LibDems in government have insisted on a major affordable homes building programme.”
Pickles insisted that the controversial Right to Buy policy reduced waiting lists. He reiterated his party’s promises that homes would be replaced and housing associations’ access to private finance would be safeguarded.
Williams, on the other hand, said: “The Conservative plan to extend right to buy to all housing association properties will damage their asset base and hinder their ability to invest in new homes.”
Both agreed that a Labour government would be economically damaging to the country.
Click here to read the full interviews with Eric Pickles and Stephen Williams.
