Local authorities should use their £170bn of land and property assets as an income stream to offset spending cuts and fund transformation rather than make a quick sale, housing and planning minister Brandon Lewis urged today.

Speaking at the launch of a Localis report 'Public Land, Public Good: getting maximum value from public land and property' the minister said that 'public land and assets have for too long been gathering expensive dust.'

He added: 'Public assets are a source of revenue, not just a way of selling land or building houses. More effective use of it can release capital funds, bring revenue benefits and put a sharper focus on service delivery.'