Mark Whitehead 07 July 2017

Land banking punishes working families, campaigners say

Nearly one in three houses that have been given the go ahead never get built, according to homelessness campaigners.

Shelter says the problem of 'phantom homes' is even more acute in London where half of new houses are not built despite developers being given planning permission.

Over the same period profits for the top five housebuilders have soared nearly fourfold to £3.3bn last year and payouts to shareholders rose to nearly £1bn. ?

Shelter warns that the current housebuilding system encourages developers to sit on land to keep prices high while blaming red tape for the delays.

It is calling on the Government to give councils the power to tax developers who aren’t building fast enough and give planning permission based on a company's track record.

Anne Baxendale of Shelter said: 'Housebuilders are trickling out a handful of poor quality homes at a snail’s pace meaning there are simply not enough affordable homes and ordinary working families are bearing the brunt.??'While people across the country struggle with eye-wateringly high housing costs, developers' profits are soaring into the billions.

'Time and again we hear the "red tape" of the planning system being blamed but the real problem is a system where developers make more profit sitting on land than they would by building homes.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Chief Executive

Leicestershire County Council
Up to £234,171
This is a rare opportunity to lead a council with both strength and ambition at a time of change. Leicestershire
Recuriter: Leicestershire County Council

Director of Adults and Integrated Commissioning

Kent County Council
up to £129,530 per annum
A career-defining role at the heart of adult social care transformation. Kent
Recuriter: Kent County Council

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner