in april 2007, the housing corporation published its design and quality standards, which incorporated building for life as the assessment method for the external environment. all new homes which received grant funding through the national affordable housing programme were required to achieve 12 out of the 20 criteria. the housing corporation also carried out an audit of the quality of affordable homes built prior to the adoption of the new standards. the housing corporation also published guidance from hatc ltd on how to achieve the requirements of building for life, aimed at housing association development staff i.e. project managers rather than designers.