English councils sitting on plans for 2m homes

New research has found that English councils are sitting on plans for 2m homes that could help to solve the housing crisis. The research, carried out by the Short Term Accommodation Association, show that planning departments claim they have space to build nearly 2m new homes, about 1.5m of which could be completed in the next five years. Birmingham city council claims it has capacity for nearly 44,000 residential properties in the next five years, while London boroughs claim they could collectively provide 331,712. Andy Fenner, chief executive of the association, said: "This is a distraction from the real problem, which is that not enough new homes are being built. Two of the biggest contributing factors to this are nimbyism and a planning system that is no longer fit for purpose. We are told there is a housing crisis, and yet councils are permitted to stretch their runway of housing delivery years into the future." 

The Times