53 … Government cannot rely on the private sector alone to build the homes the country needs. The gap between what can realistically be expected and what is needed is simply too large. …

56 Local authorities and housing associations need to make a much bigger contribution to housebuilding if it is to reach required levels.

1. Government must recognise the effect that constant changes in public policy have on the housing market; housebuilders, housing associations and local authorities are unlikely to commit to large building programmes amid such uncertainty.

ecommendations include:

Lifting restraints on Local Authority borrowing to allow them to build

Penalising (eg by charging Council Tax on) developments which are not completed quickly

Building low-cost housing on surplus government held land – and putting responsibility for implementing this into the hands of a ‘senior cabinet minister’.

Improving the planning system and also increasing planning fees which should then be ringfenced for the development of planning departments