Developers have reacted furiously to a suggestion by the Campaign to Protect Rural England that they are hoarding land to drive up prices.
Survey results published by the CPRE on Monday show that the land reserves of the top 15 housebuilders have increased by 18% in the past five years, amounting to enough land to build 280,000 homes.

Pierre Williams, spokesman for the House Builders Federation, said: "This so-called survey is so entirely flawed it's worthless.

"The CPRE has been the nimby's champion for 40-50 years and their policies have resulted in the housing crisis we're in."

He said the survey classed land with outline planning consent as hoarded, despite the fact that developers aren't allowed to build on this land without further detailed permission. And he said another reason for the perceived growth in land reserves was that the top 15 developers had become much larger in the past 15 years because of consolidation.

  • The Town and Country Planning Association has pulled together a coalition including the Chartered Institute of Housing, the House Builders' Federation, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the National housing Federation and Shelter to lobby planning authorities to build 250,000 homes each year.

    TCPA director Gideon Amos said: "Those campaigning against housing are organised and articulate – we haven't always been that.

    "It's time we put the message across and started a dialogue at the highest level."

    • Source

    Housing Today