<b></b>Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has set the ball rolling on a wide ranging programme of measures to solve Britain&amp;’s growing housing crisis. Supported by the Treasury through funding announced by chancellor Gordon Brown, Prescott has moved to ease the planning process for new homes and boost the amount of social housing built throughout the country.<br><b>Calling on all sides of the House to help make a &amp;“step change&amp;” in the government approach to the housing market, Prescott admitted that there has been a 10,000 new home shortfall in the south east in the past two years against targets set in 2000. &amp;“Today we have to be open and honest and recognise that these targets are not being met,&amp;” he said. &amp;“We can not allow this to continue. Overall we are building 150,000 fewer homes (a year) than we were 30 years ago.&amp;”</b><br><b>Prescott&amp;’s measures include targeting an extra &amp;£350 million for the planning system towards those planning authorities that show the best improvement. Those that do not improve will have to face the DPM himself. &amp;“I am putting local authorities on notice that, where they fail to meet their targets, I will take action to intervene.&amp;” Prescott added that he would …