Responding to a report on Land Value Capture published by the
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, the Local
Government Association’s Housing spokesman, Cllr Martin Tett,
said:
“We have long–called for reforms to land compensation and
compulsory purchase laws and are pleased that the Committee has
called for the Government to implement several of our
recommendations.
“Rising land prices is one of the most influential contributors
to our housing crisis - it means less homes are built, they are
less affordable, they are built more slowly, there can be
compromises on quality, and there is not enough funding left over
for vital local infrastructure and services that communities need
to back development.
“There are therefore huge gains for communities, economies and
public services in allowing councils being able to capture
potentially billions of pounds worth of land value increases to
invest in the very infrastructure and services that generate
those increasing values.
“We are also pleased the Committee recommends that government
provides extra support to councils, through the LGA, to help give
local authorities a strong hand in negotiations with developers.
“Government action on these recommendations would have a
significant impact in building more homes with the right
infrastructures and places that people want to live and work.”
