Lord Wolfson says current rules put too much power “in the hands of the people who already have it”. Photo: Next Plc
Homeowners should have less power to challenge new housing development, fellow Conservative Lord Wolfson has said.
Next's chief executive has called on ministers to overhaul Britain's planning system so homeowners have less power to block new build.
Speaking at an event at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Tuesday, Lord Wolfson said: “When you buy a house with a view, you are not buying a view. All the land around your house is not yours.”
He said that while homeowners have the right to stop development nearby that threatens the value of their property, they should not be able to control everything that happens around them. areas.
Lord Wolfson said the current rules put too much power “in the hands of the people who already have it”.
The UK's outdated planning system is widely blamed for holding back housing production in recent years, with a backlog of There are 4.3 million homes under construction.
Due to supply shortages, homes are becoming increasingly unaffordable. .