Lib Dems launch a plan for 300,000 homes to be built each year

The Liberal Democrats would increase the rate of house-building to 300,000 homes per year, according to an upcoming policy paper which will be tabled at next month's party conference. The Lib Dems 300,000 property target would more than double the current rate of house-building. The latest figures out from Communities and Local Government show that from Q2 2011 to Q2 2012 there have been 99,230 new housing starts, compared with 108,330 in the previous year. Richard Kemp, leader of Liverpool Liberal Democrats and chair of Plus Dane Housing, worked on the proposals that say's the new homes would be funded by public sector pension funds. In a separate announcement, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles called on expert brokers to spearhead a fresh drive to get stalled housing deals up and running and builders back on moth-balled sites. According to Glenigan Data, in March 2012, there were 1,400 housing schemes of over 10 housing units with planning permission that has stalled. Mr Pickles is concerned that too much development is being stalled because of economically unrealistic agreements negotiated between councils and developers at the height of the housing boom. This results in no development, no regeneration and no community benefits at all when agreements are no longer economically viable. August 17, 2102