Scrapping of regional planning would bring housebuilding 'to its knees' says FMB

The Conservatives proposal to abolish housing targets has been branded a 'charter for nimbys'.

Plans to scrap regional planning were revealed in the Conservative's housing green paper announced today.

The Federation of Master Builders said such a move would bring housebuilding 'to its knees'.

Brian Berry, director of external affairs, at the FMB said: 鈥淎t a time when millions of people are wanting an affordable home the Conservatives Party鈥檚 鈥榖ottom-up鈥� approach to housing offers little hope to either the construction industry or to those needing a home."

The Tory's Solid Foundations paper said the removal of regional planning would protect the green-belt and prevent unwanted eco-towns.

Other proposals in the green paper include rewarding social tenants for good behaviour with 10% equity shares, giving tenants a right to move to other social sector properties, shared ownership schemes, and offering villages and towns the power to create Local Housing Trusts.

Town and Country Planning Association

The Town and Country Planning Association welcomed the emphasis on releasing public land and Community Land Trusts but cautioned that not enough concern was being paid to zero carbon new homes.

Chief executive, Gideon Amos, pointed readers towards the Tories鈥� earlier policy paper, Control Shift 鈥� Returning Power to Local Communities published in February which, it said, would abolish the regional planning system

鈥淭his raises a number of important questions such as what will happen to key infrastructure and development projects for which Regional Spatial Strategies provide the key route to permission,鈥� he said.

Chartered Institute of Housing

The Chartered Institute of Housing praised the Conservatives for stealing many of their ideas... apart from those on building more houses. Sarah Webb, CIH Chief Executive said: "There is much in the Policy Paper to welcome. However, no party has yet articulated robust plans to tackle the chronic shortage of affordable housing across the UK.

鈥淯nfortunately we are still only building one home for every two households that are being formed. I would urge David Cameron to develop his Party's thinking further by taking a more holistic approach to housing reform and we look forward to debating this with him."

National Housing Federation response

Federation chief executive David Orr said: 鈥淭he Conservative Party's housing green paper is innovative and imaginative in many ways.

He praised the idea to use public funding to bring empty homes back into use, and thought the idea for an equity share for good behaviour, saying: 鈥淭he idea of giving tenants with an excellent payment history an equity share in their social home is a proposal that looks interesting and merits further investigation. It could assist some tenants into owner occupation and by doing so create a new letting.鈥�

However, he had only criticism for the right to move idea, calling it unworkable and saying it would have massive cost implications for housing associations: 鈥淚t would mean that housing associations could end up with properties dotted all over the country, with their maintenance staff having to spend entire days travelling across the country, and emitting huge amounts of carbon, just to get to one property.鈥�

Federation of Master Builders response

The Federation of Master Builders called the idea of abolishing housing targets 鈥渁 charter for NIMBY鈥檚鈥� and said it was no exchange for some good, old fashioned cash:

Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs, at the FMB said: 鈥淎t a time when the house building industry is on its knees and millions of people are wanting an affordable home the Conservatives Party鈥檚 鈥榖ottom-up鈥� approach to housing offers little hope to either the construction industry or to those needing a home. Abandoning national housing targets could easily become a charter for NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) who want to stop housing development in their area.鈥�

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