Red tape reduction 'needed to meet housing targets'

The government should cut the amount of red tape surrounding the building of new houses, it has been claimed. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has asserted that the government’s plans to build three million new homes can only be successfully executed through a reduction in regulations. An announcement, which may be of interest to people looking to buy a house in Scotland, was made today (March 26th) by secretary of state for communities Hazel Blears, stating that a review of the planning consent process was to be undertaken. Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the FMB, welcomed the statement. He commented: “If Britain is to have any hope of sustaining its economic growth, the planning system needs to stop looking for reasons to block and delay development. “If the government doesn’t get to grips with planning reform, it has no chance at all of meeting the housing targets it announced only last summer.” Scottish property owners may also be interested to learn that the FMB recently called for a VAT cut for home improvements.