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[March 2004]
CPA Comments on Barker Review
The UK's Construction Products Association (CPA) has given a cautious welcome to the Barker Review. Commenting on the final report, CPA Chief Executive Michael Ankers said: "We welcome the very clear recognition in the Review that to continue at the current rate of housebuilding will create social and economic problems, and hamper the country's economic success. It is undoubtedly a bold response to suggest that there needs to be an additional 70,000-120,000 private housing starts per annum, and a doubling in the number of social houses provided each year, but this only serves to demonstrate the scale of the under-provision in recent years.
"Whilst many of the measures proposed in the Review to facilitate this increase in housing are to be welcomed, we believe this will only be achieved if there is support from all the main political parties. In the past, housing has been something of a political football, and we will not deliver this step change in provision if the different political parties take opposing views on the issues. In particular, a firm commitment is required to deliver the responsive planning envisaged in the Report.
"In addition, it will be important to ensure the level at which the proposed Planning-gain Supplement is set, in order to avoid it discouraging land being available for housing development."
ENDS