The government’s plan for the large-scale renovation of 40 run-down neighbourhoods has once again been delayed and will now not be finalised until March 1 next year, urban renewal minister Ella Vogelaar told MPs on Wednesday.

Contracts to finance the improvements were to have been finalised last month. However housing corporations are refusing to sign an agreement to invest €2.5bn in these schemes because of government’s plans to make them pay corporate tax from next year.