Gaby Hinsliff reports that the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, wants to build 10,000 social homes and affordable flats, and is urging the government to make public land available at below-market rates for building, which the Treasury is blocking (Starmer has promised big – now he must be bold and move quickly. Here’s how he should start, 5 July).
One way to achieve Burnham’s goals would be to repeal the Land Compensation Act 1961. Before this Tory act, when landowners obtained planning permission to sell land for building, the uplift of the land values was split between landowners and local councils or new towns. The act granted the full increase in land values from planning permission to landowners, making new housing more expensive. Repealing the act would help Labour to meet its pledge to rebuild Britain.
Ray Corbett
Penge, London
