Government to act on “public perception of landbanking”

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has told the industry that he will take action to ensure builders build out homes at the pace promised, reacting to “a major public perception problem” that “landbanking is the reason for the housing supply shortage”.

Speaking at the HBF Policy Conference today he acknowledged the findings of reports by Kate Barker (2004) and Oliver Letwin (2018) which found no evidence of landbanking. But he said: “We can’t deny that there is a major perception problem – people feel strongly about this. So we want to take action to ensure builders build out at the pace promised (when getting permission).”

Jenrick said that the government will issue detailed proposals shortly.

The housing secretary also called on the industry to take a central role in building a better world post Covid acknowledging that the industry is “the backbone of the economy and key to any recovery”. He said that the prominence of housing, planning and property in the Queen’s Speech earlier this month reflected the interest that both he and prime minister Boris Johnson have in the sector.

Jenrick focused on the planning reforms in the Planning Bill and highlighted the efforts the government is making to increase home ownership …