Nearly 60,000 acres of agricultural land that could be used for housebuilding lies within 16 miles of Trafalgar Square according to a new report. This land currently supports 25,000 farm animals and some crops, while 11% is set aside. The report,* for think-tank Politeia, argues that it would be better to build London&amp;’s future housing on this land rather than on John Prescott&amp;’s designated &amp;“growth areas&amp;”.<p></p><p> The report concludes that the housing shortage is unlikely to be solved by Prescott&amp;’s plans and argues for a freeing-up of the planning system together with tax incentives to build on brownfield. </p><p> Pierre Williams of the HBF said: &amp;“We need to look again at green belt policy to see if it offers the most environmentally friendly and sustainable way of providing London&amp;’s present and future housing needs. We need to look at it plot by plot to see if it is of value.&amp;”</p><p> * Building More Homes by Richard Ehrman &amp;&amp; Crispin Kelly (www.politeia.co.uk) <br> </p><p></p>