Green belt dilemma as boom in city living collapses

A Housing Strategy unveiled before Christmas was described as “very positive”. It includes a mortgage guarantee scheme allowing first time buyers to get onto the housing ladder with a five per cent deposit as well as £420m to get key projects under way.

The Home Builders Federation also said it was also important that the Government goes ahead with controversial reforms which aim to simplify and speed up the notoriously bureaucratic planning system.

Spokesman Steve Turner said an industry recovery is dependent on “a sensible planning system and return of mortgages”.