Boris calls for local councils to take back control of house building targets

Tory maverick Boris Johnson has attacked the big housebuilders for abusing their market positions, and said that there should be a crackdown on so-called land banking.

Speaking to a packed audience yesterday at the Conservative party conference, the former foreign secretary said: “Let’s encourage more small private builders.

“Let’s take on the big eight homebuilders, some of whom are now frankly abusing their dominant position. Let’s crack down on land bankers.”

Johnson – who dismissed speculation that he will become the next prime minister – said that local councils should be given greater incentives and control of taxes raised in their area.

He said this would allow them to build more homes and permit more developments.

Johnson told delegates: “Let’s give councils a real incentive to go for planning permissions and to go for growth and to give planning permissions on those brownfield sites, with long overdue fiscal devolution.

“Give good councils the ability to retain Stamp Duty, council tax, business rates, and annual tax on enveloped dwellings, [revenues] and they will have a motive to go for growth.”

He hinted that government targets should not be any part of policy, saying: “We ought to be giving back control.”

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