Sajid Javid accuses councils of not building enough homes and ‘fudging the numbers’ on new builds as he launches fresh housing strategy
The Communities Secretary admitted today that the housing system was "broken" and his "bold, radical vision" would help to get more homes built
SAJID Javid has told councils to "get real" over the need to build more homes and that some areas had "fudged the numbers" on how many had been built.
The Communities Secretary said ahead of the publication of that local authorities must use more "imaginative" approaches to getting more homes built to tackle the housing crisis.
He outlined today plans for a new Lifetime ISA to help first-time buyers save for a deposit, and vowed to help small and medium construction firms to compete for contracts.
Local authorities were ordered to prioritise high-rise blocks to try to meet the Government's target of building a million new homes by 2020, and he warned that they must not "duck difficult decisions".
Land will also be seized from fat cats who fail to build on it in time under radical new powers.
Mr Javid said that home ownership had become a "distant dream" for many, and that the "symptoms of this broken market are being felt by real people in every community".
He added that the "route cause is simple. For far too long we have not built enough houses".
This morning Mr Javid turned on councils for fudging the numbers, and told them to "get real" over the crisis.
that 40 per cent of planning authorities do not have plans to meet targets.
Speaking to Radio 4 this morning, he said that numbers had not been based on demand, and all councils should come up with more "realistic assessments".
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He said: "We’ve had a situation so far where some local authorities have done just that and others have frankly have fudged the numbers and not been real about the need and that’s going to change.
And he admitted that the system "is not working" and was a "barrier to social progress."
The Communities Secretary described the plans as "bold" and "radical" and would help tackle the current crisis.
He also said the Government would focus on providing more homes to rent too.
"People want a decent home to buy or a decent home to rent, it's a choice for them, we should be helping both types of tenancies," he said.
"The reality is we need more homes, whether to rent or buy."
He also confirmed comments made by the Housing Minister Gavin Barwell over the weekend that green belt land could be used for building - but only in "exceptional circumstances";.
They will be forced to look at all other options before considering it.
Mr Javid told MPs in the Commons: "We promised that the green belt was safe in our hands… that is still the case.
"This white paper does not remove any of its protections."
But Labour said the plans were "feeble" and all that had been delivered was "hot air".
Shadow Housing Minister John Healey said the plans were "disappointing beyond belief" and there was no plan to "reverse the seven years of Tory failure".
Jeremy Corbyn said today that lack of action by councils and ministers had helped to force up house prices.
He said: "They have built very few homes, and in London they have allowed - indeed their policies have encouraged - prices to get much worse with attempts to force councils to sell high-value properties, a lack of effective regulation of the private rented sector and a lack of new build and council homes for social rent."