The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed a housing report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs.

In its publication, the Committee "strongly recommends" the Government increases its homes target by 50% and build 300,000 new houses each year.

Ian Fletcher, director of policy (real estate) at the BPF, said the report was "suitably ambitious" if the country is to solve its housing crisis.


"Their observations on the need to promote all tenures in pursuit of raising housing supply are spot on. Acknowledgement of the role institutions can play in providing much needed long term funding for build to rent accommodation, which is able to deliver additional housing supply on a significant scale, is welcome, as is the Committee's observations on the SDLT surcharge hampering additional rented supply," he said.

"The Committee's recommendations on planning are generally well considered, as is their principles for community infrastructure levy reform. We support their call to allow local councils to vary planning fees, although we would rather this promoted some service level agreement, than just operating with a cap."

(LM/CD)