Questions over housing plans

However, the alternative policy proposed by Ministers, financial incentives for those councils that approve major housing schemes, appears to have gone too far in the opposite direction.

The concerns advocated today by council chiefs are merited. The strained state of town hall budgets, even before the coalition's spending cuts kick in, mean they will require money upfront in order to pay for the infrastructure work that each new housing estate necessitates.

This is a fundamental point – the Conservatives, when in opposition, repeatedly criticised the last government for not properly planning new homes so, for example, they had sufficient drains – and convenient access to public transport. Now they risk making the same mistake. Housing Minister Grant Shapps talks about the devolution of decision-making, but he has yet to adequately explain how his new approach will work in practice.

Take Bradford Council. It has received 1,000 objections from members of Menston Action Group who are vehemently opposed to two major new housing schemes that will place local services, already stretched to the limit, under an even more intolerable strain in an area where the roads are in a near permanent state of gridlock.

If councils choose to block such developments, will they be overturned on appeal – or will Mr Shapps decide that the concept of devolved power should be paramount at all times? If, however, he chooses to back the developers because he realises that a certain number of new houses need to be built each year, will the councils forgo their right to any financial help from the Government? And, if Britain ends up with a housing shortage, what will be the Minister's approach? These questions, and many more, all need answering before the Government proceeds with their proposals.