The move has been roundly condemned by homeless charities and housebuilders alike.
The letter also outlines the Conservatives’ intention to introduce a new local government and housing bill in its first 12 months in office.
The letter asserts that the incoming Conservative government ‘would not pay a penny of compensation to speculative developers as a consequence of changes in planning policy.’
A spokesperson from the Home Builders Federation comments, ‘The letter gives rise to real concern. There is no recognition of the desperate need in all parts of the country for more homes and tenures, or of the responsibility of local authorities to make provision for these. Rather, local authorities are seemingly being encouraged to put such considerations aside if they want to. The timing is unfortunate: housing providers have been through the worst downturn in living memory.
Grant Shapps, the Conservative shadow housing minister, argued current targets were not working. ‘We don’t believe in a top-down approach that is Stalinist in nature. Housing completions are at record lows.’
