The locations will constitute a section of the M4 corridor to include Reading, Basingstoke and Woking; Manchester; Cardiff; Coventry; Hereford and the Marches; Bristol; Leicester; Chelmsford; Nottingham; Plymouth and Liverpool. The Thames corridor from North Kent and London to the Channel will also form part of the early roll-out.
The packs will be introduced into these areas from January 2007.
Paul Broadhead, deputy director-general of AHIPP, said: “While criticism from a number of industry bodies cannot be ignored, we have received a hugely positive response in the first six roll-out locations from both industry and consumers. To maintain this positive momentum, we are now extending the roll-out.
“It will be organisations with the foresight to take action now to prepare for the introduction of HIPs that will have the competitive edge.”
However, Nicholas Hanson, director of Hanson Financial Management, commented: “The trials are being done to save face, as the pack is half a HIP without the Home Condition Report. My overriding concern is the cost. If HIPs provided the customer a better and more secure process, I’d support it, but this is a government debacle that will come back to haunt it.”
