MORNING NEWS: Land banking, planning and flexible working

In the news this morning, a preview of the Raynsford Review of Planning which is to be published this week. The new report by a former housing minister concludes that the planning system is “weak, deregulated and less effective than at any time in the past three-quarters of a century.” Also this morning, the government’s land banking review is reported to be examining ways sites owned by big developers could be split up to allow smaller firms to take over portions of the land on which they would build their own homes. And, after receiving approaches from three private equity firms, IWG is said to be open to a takeover. Sainsbury’s and Asda could be forced to sell 245 stores if £15bn merger completes Big developers may be told to hand over sites to smaller firms to speed up house building Raynsford report slams ‘broken’ planning system Poundworld put up for sale by owner TPG amid high street carnage Ponzi probe for fraudster Paul Sutton behind sale of BHS Secondary shopping centre sales tell a story Five things you might have missed last week Regus offices tycoon Mark Dixon to open talks with suitors Rental prices fall as landlords find it’s less grim up north