Developer loses latest battle over house building targets

House builder Cala Homes has lost the latest round in its fight with the Government over the scrapping of house building targets.

The developer’s latest challenge to the abolition of regional spatial strategies has failed, with the High Court ruling against its claim for a judicial review.

However, the battle is set to carry on, with Cala due to appeal.

In November Cala won a ruling that the Government's abolition of regional spatial strategies was unlawful.

But the Government hit back by saying that the court ruling had little effect and that local councils needed to take into consideration the intention to abolish the regional spatial strategies in the near future.

The latest High Court decision backs the government position.

Planning minister Bob Neill said: “This judgment makes it clear that planners can take into account the Government’s intention to do away with regional strategies.

“The Coalition Government made a firm pledge to sweep away these controversial strategies that have proved that top-down targets do not build homes. All they have produced is the lowest peacetime house building rates since 1924 and fuelled resentment in the planning process that has slowed everything down.”