Commenting on the High Court ruling that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' decision to scrap regional housing targets was unlawful, David Orr Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation said it "reinforces our view that the abrupt decision to scrap regional housing targets was a hasty and damaging move".

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Mr Orr said: "It has already seen plans for over 180,000 homes scrapped.

"We hope the Government will now put in place the necessary arrangements to ensure the homes this country desperately needs are delivered."

Research commissioned by the Federation, carried out by Tetlow King Planning, shows that the Government's decision in May to allow councils to ignore the regional targets has resulted directly or indirectly in plans for around 182,000 homes being dropped.

That figure is expected to rise to at least 300,000 over the next year.

(CD/KMcA)