The chancellor's plan to review UK housing supply has received a mixed welcome from industry and planners.
Economist Kate Barker's review into the finances of housebuilders, announced in the Budget, was welcomed by the construction sector. A spokesperson for the House Builders Federation said: "We are very encouraged by the tone of commitment towards balancing supply and demand."

One of Barker's tasks will be to ascertain builders' ability to carry out higher levels of development in high-demand areas.

The HBF spokesperson said he thought there was a "good chance the review could lead to local authorities being compelled to deliver housing figures".

But the Royal Town Planning Institute called for the study to take a broader view. Professor Kelvin MacDonald, director of policy and research, said: "This brief appears to be reinforcing existing prejudices. Planning is only one of the aspects that comes into play. I would like to see proper analysis of where the shortfall in planning housing lies and greater emphasis on the role of the private sector."

A Treasury spokesperson said the review was flexible and said: "A lot has been done in this area, but we have got to do more to deliver a less volatile market through the better planning of housing supply."

Barker's remit also includes examining the role of capacity, competition and finance in housebuilding and how these interact with the planning system.

Sir John Egan, who led the Rethinking Construction taskforce in 1998, is to head a review of skills and training in the built environment. Egan's remit includes defining the skills needed by councillors, council officers and planners and looking at ways of providing these skills.

Barker and Egan are set to submit reports to the deputy prime minister this autumn.

Source

Housing Today