Steve Nancarrow of New Home Advisor has condemned the decision by Grant Shapps to scrap the proposed new house building standards as a disgrace. "This decision will allow new home developers to put profit before quality for many years to come" says Steve.

Steve Nancarrow is the UK's leading consumer expert on new home defects and has inspected thousands of brand new homes over the past 20 years up and down the country. "There is already a marked difference in quality between private and social housing" says Steve "I know that because I have seen it with my own eyes time and time again. The people living in government funded accommodation are some of the most vulnerable in our society. Why should they suffer? They deserve better standards not worse."

Steve managed the Customer Service Departments of several large UK Housing Developers in the past but he was continually disappointed by their lack of commitment to quality. He left to set up his own organisation to represent buyers of brand new homes and ensure they receive the quality standards that they are entitled to and in 2004 Steve petitioned the House of Commons with his local Conservative MP Marion Roe to campaign for greater consumer protection for buyers of brand new homes.

"This decision will unfortunately tar all developers with the same brush" says Steve. "I know several that really care about quality and go above and beyond the existing standards. Home Buyers and Councils should be aware of this and choose their house builder very carefully. If they want free advice they can contact me at any time and I would be happy to help."

Steve is not surprised that the NHBC have supported the decision. "After all the NHBC is an insurance company not a consumer organisation. Why should they care?"

Ends

Notes to Editors 1.Steve Nancarrow is MD of New Home Advisor - a consumer orientated company that provides snagging inspections and free advice for owners of brand new homes throughout the UK and liaises with developers to ensure new build defects are corrected.

2.Steve can be contacted on 0845 408 4979 or 07968 509589 or e-mail info@newhomeadvisor.co.uk / stevenancarrow@googlemail.com

3.Photographs are available on request