Miller Group chief executive Keith Miller has slammed deputy prime minister John Prescott’s affordable homes initiative. Miller said: “Asking us to build homes for under £60,000 produces nice headlines but it’s a much bigger problem. Mr Prescott is looking through the wrong end of the telescope. Consumers want housing close to where they work but we can’t get that because land is not being released in the areas of the country that people want to live.” “The main problem the industry faces is getting hold of the land in the first place and then getting housing developments through the planning system,” he added. Miller’s comments came as Miller Group announced pre tax profits of £52.5 million, up 31%. (Financial Times, Independent)