The chief executive of the British Property Federation Liz Peace has said a gap in infrastructure funding will give “nimbies a great reason to say no to development.” Speaking at an IPPR organised seminar on sustainable communities, Peace also said that the planning gain supplement recommended in the Barker report was not the way forward. “The development industry does not like the concept of the planning gain supplement and, I’m afraid to say, will find ways to avoid paying it. “A tariff associated with development activity rather than the supplement would be better,” she added. Speaking at the same meeting housing and planning minister Yvette Cooper said: “It is easy to make infrastructure a reason not to develop. We have to look at different ways of funding infrastructure.” In defence of a possible planning gain supplement she said: “There is a considerable increase in the value of land once planning permission is granted. A lot of the difficulties we face are because of restricted land supply. Developers see the benefit as their land gains in value. The public should also see some of the benefits and the principle of capturing some of this for infrastructure is important.” Barratt chief executive …