Redrow boss lays down challenge to government

Redrow chairman Steve Morgan has called on the government to act in three key areas if it wants the industry to deliver the homes the country needs.

In an impassioned speech at today's HBF Policy conference in London, Morgan said there were three key areas in which the government could help the industry.

"The government needs to play its part in increasing housing numbers," he said. "We need a speedier and simplified planning system, we need a dramatic reduction in stamp duty tax and we need a commitment on Help to Buy beyond 2021.

"The prime minister said on March 5th 'I expect developers to do their duty for Britain and build the homes our country needs'," he said. "Well, prime minister, I assure you the industry is doing its duty for Britain." He pointed out that output had increased by 74% over the past four years from 125,000 to 217,000, but looked back at a time - when Redrow first started building in the 1980s - when sites could be bought and be ready to build on in just six weeks. "I remember one difficult planning officer delaying a site and it took eight weeks - I was fuming!" he said.

Morgan …