<b><b>John Stewart finds a commitment to meeting housing need is missing from the government's call for a radical overhaul of the planning system </b></b><br>It has been difficult maintaining a sense of perspective since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The tragedy itself, President Bush&amp;’s declaration of war on terrorism, fears of a global recession, collapsing stock markets, looming financial disasters and large-scale job losses in a number of industries, all dominate our newspapers and television screens. The future looks exceptionally uncertain.<p></p><p><b><b>Confounding the experts</b></b><br>The housing market in 2001 defied the predictions of almost everyone in the economics profession. Although only an amateur practitioner of the dismal science, I take heart from my own comments in the February issue of Housing Market Report: &amp;“Forecasts of only subdued growth in house prices and volumes over the next two years look increasingly unrealistic&amp;”.</p><p>House price inflation accelerated to 10-11% in August. Mortgage approvals for house purchase were up 13% in the first seven months. The August HBF survey showed net reservations growth holding up strongly, new home prices rising rapidly and housebuilders expecting a good year for sales. By late September, when this column was written, there was no hint in any housing …