<p>Berkeley Group chairman Tony Pidgley is calling for housing to be made a national priority for both government and for the whole country.</p> <p>Speaking at the firm's AGM today (September 5) he said: "This does require the presumption in favour of sustainable development within the NPPF to be enforced. The government has a vital role to play in stimulating investment by creating a stable, consistent and transparent platform to allow housing to be developed. However the changes in planning and the consultation on the taxation of residential properties have introduced uncertainties for businesses such as Berkeley."</p> <p>He said this would lead to lower levels of investment in housebuiding generally and Berkeley would be investing more selectively in land and construction.</p> <p>He said trading for the period from May to August was in line with expectations.</p>