There are, of course, two sides to every story, and Housing Associations are no exception.

Figures from the Housing Corporation show that associations are continuing to raise millions of pounds from the sale of properties to tenants and other first-time buyers, reports Public Finance (April 4). But although sales grew by 9 per cent in 2006-07 to

£542 million, the rate of growth is slowing down. Last year's expansion compares with an increase of 19 per cent in 2005-06. Peter Marsh, deputy chief executive of the corporation, says that registered social landlords are aware that sales may not continue at present levels because of tightening financial markets and mortgage problems.

Building (April 4) reports that the Housing Corporation believes housing associations are “more exposed than ever” to a downturn in the market and questions whether they can cope with a downturn. The corporation's report shows that all associations with more than 5,000 homes would have lost money in 2007 if it were not for private sales.

CCTV is all-seeing but not much doing

Can we really sleep easier in our beds because of the plethora of cameras in our communities, or is it just an urban myth we want to be true?

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The Government will miss its target for two million new homes by 2016, says a Construction Products Association report, in Building. Obstacles include accessing land, a departure from building flats and the drive for zero-carbon homes. Lord Rogers of Riverside, the Labour peer and

architect, is unimpressed by housebuilding in the Thames Gateway, which he says is “peppering the banks of the beautiful Thames with shoddy, Toytown houses and Dan Dare glass towers”.

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