Councils warn Government over housing targets

The vast majority of councils have expressed concern to the Government about whether its plan to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years is achievable, according to analysis by the BBC of councils’ responses to a consultation exercise carried out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The BBC, which obtained 90% of the consultation responses via freedom of information requests, reported that the concerns were shared by Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat authorities alike.

The councils’ fears include the fact that calculations on the targets have not taken into account strains on local infrastructure, land shortages, and a lack of capacity in the planning system and construction industry.

Labour-run Broxtowe Council in Nottinghamshire was reported to have described the proposed changes as “very challenging, if not impossible to achieve”.

Central Bedfordshire, which is independent-run, claimed its area would be left “absolutely swamped with growth that the infrastructure just can not support”.

The Local Government Association has called on the Government to “give councils the tools we need to help build these much-needed new homes”.

Cllr Adam Hug, the LGA's housing spokesman, told the BBC that “any national algorithms and formulas would strongly benefit from local knowledge” provided by the people who “know their areas best”.

The Government has said it will respond to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation and publish revisions before the end of the year.

Harry Rodd