<p>Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has challenged housebuilders to embrace his new planning proposals and shake off the restraints of a "planned system".</p> <p>Speaking at the NHBC's General Election Lecture series, Shapps confirmed his plans to give local communities more power over new development in their area, an idea that the industry fears could cut off new homes supply.</p> <p>But Shapps told the audience: "I can't believe that big housebuilders, instead of relying on their own wit and knowhow, want a planned system rather than a free market system."</p> <p>Shapps also confirmed that a new Conservative government would look at the role of the HCA which he described as "very large" and "Involved in too many things", citing the HCA Academy as an example of an area that should be left to the private sector.</p> <p> </p>