Gov must devolve housing powers to regions, says think tank

The government should devolve power over housing to the regions, including decisions over building on greenbelt, a think tank has said. IPPR North said the government was at risk of missing its target of building 1m new homes by 2020 if the new metro mayors and the mayor of London lacked full powers. New powers IPPR North is calling for include control over stamp duty proceeds from new build homes, the ability to put levies on empty homes, and control over the greenbelt. Brownfield land is in too short supply to meet the government’s 1m homes target, the report claimed. It highlights figures from consultancy Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners, based on Department for Communities and Local Government data, which show that: • the North West has brownfield capacity for 166,211 homes and a long-term need of 263,168 new homes • in Yorkshire and the Humber, there is brownfield capacity for 71,555 homes and a need for 271,602 homes • in the North East, there is brownfield capacity for 44,407 homes and a need for 115,025 homes • in the West Midlands, there is brownfield capacity for 66,635 homes and a need for 266,391 homes. In return for new powers, mayors should have to set out to government how they will meet a number of challenges, the report said. These challenges included releasing sufficient land for housebuilding, setting out plans to speed up the planning system for developers, and showcasing how they will help small and medium businesses enter the market. Charlotte Snelling, report author and researcher at IPPR, said: “England has not one housing market but several. The problems facing Kensington in London, and the problems in Kensington in Liverpool, are very different and best tackled locally.” • To send feedback, e-mail louisa.clarence-smith@estatesgazette.com or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette