Last week, MPs on the housing, communities and local government committee at Westminster published a report outlining their views on the government’s emerging planning reforms. One of their main recommendations was to introduce “use it or lose it” planning permissions aimed at speeding up build rates. 

Developers would have just 18 months to start on site once permission has been granted, and would be liable for council tax on any homes still unbuilt after three years. These changes, they thought, would stop land banking.