Housing Minister Brandon Lewis has welcomed a Court of Appeal decision which restores the government's small sites affordable housing contributions policy.

The judgement paves the way for more housebuilding on smaller sites, making it easier for homes to built.

Ministers have criticised moves made by West Berkshire District Council and Reading Borough Council who challenged the policy and brought legal action as "a total waste of taxpayers' money".

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Overall, the ruling means affordable homes contributions will fall to those bigger developers building the largest sites – while those smaller builders developing sites of 10 homes or fewer will be able to get work started on their sites, without facing charges that could leave them unable to build any homes at all.

Minister Lewis said: "Today's (11 May) judgment by the Court of Appeal restores common sense to the system, and ensures that those builders developing smaller sites – including self-builders - don't face costs that could stop them from building any homes at all.

"This will now mean that builders developing sites of fewer than 10 homes will no longer have to make an affordable homes contribution that should instead fall to those building much larger developments."

(LM)