Decentralization minister Greg Clark, charged with leading the Government's onslaught on planning and brownfield policy, has been given a concurrent set of responsibilities as a DBIS "minister for cities".
Mr Clark will, therefore, be responsible for promoting a planning policy that erodes regeneration of cities and promotes greenfield sprawl, while also leading Government policy to support growth and prosperity for cities.
He said he was thrilled by the appointment.
"For Britain to be successful, Britain's cities need to be successful," he said.
"Our cities generate well over half of our wealth and are home to the majority of our businesses and our leading universities. If our cities do well, the country does well. I am looking forward to working with the leaders of Britain's cities to ensure that the Government does everything possible to help urban Britain thrive."
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will chair a ministerial group including Mr Clark which will seek to develop new ideas for cities, presumably while they struggle to cope with planning policies which will allow development to slip away from them.
The Cabinet Office said it would be a "cross-cutting approach".
"The minister for cities will champion the economic, social and environmental role of cities," said Mr Clegg.
"He will be the first point of contact in understanding the challenges and opportunities for cities in creating growth and prosperity across the country. I look forward to working with Greg and the rest of the Ministerial Group on Cities to take forward this agenda, and identify solutions to support our city leaders in driving future development and prosperity."
Shadow communities secretary Caroline Flint said the Government has no plan for growth and should back Labour plans to extend economic growth powers to cities.
"Unless ministers get behind Labour's plans the appointment of a minister for cities is just an empty gesture," she said.
"The Tory-led Government have also denied regions outside London access to leftover regional development agency assets and funds. The Government must be clear that local areas, not just London, should be given proper control of the future of old RDA assets."
The new ministerial group will initially concentrate on the eight "core cities" outside London and will leave the bigger challenges for later.
