The Government's new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) launched risks being undermined if local authorities do not adopt a responsible approach to planning reforms, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: "It's good that the Government appears to have stuck to its guns and carried out its intended reforms to the planning system which are badly needed if we are to meet our housing needs. Over the next five years the gap between demand for housing and the increase in housing supply is going to grow by more than half a million. It will be the young in our society who are going to suffer unless we can build new homes for them to live in."


Mr Berry continued: "The NPPF is a step in the right direction but in order to build more homes local planning authorities must allocate sufficient financially viable land for the construction of new homes. Local authorities, local communities and interest groups need to take a more responsible approach to planning, and to permit the introduction of a system that provides sufficient land to satisfy the needs of our growing population."

(CD/GK)