The Government has been accused of playing a ‘crude numbers game', with the announcement of a £500m house-building incentive. Sir Simon Milton, chairman of the LGA, said: ‘An extra half-a-billion pounds is a significant injection of cash that will help councils to identify where new homes will go. ‘Councils want to work with the Government to build new homes that the country needs. It is disappointing that this announcement seems to be rewarding councils for playing a crude numbers game, and ignores the needs of the majority of councils with housing challenges.' The cash announcement, by housing minister, Yvette Cooper, is intended to encourage councils to build more homes, within a set timescale for young families rather than just flats. But Sir Simon claimed it was equally important to fund roads, schools and hospitals to stop vast areas of new housing becoming ‘desolate dormitories'. And, he said, councils needed the capacity to borrow money to fund large housing projects. He also pointed the finger at private companies ‘sitting on vast tracts of undeveloped land'. However, the British Property Federation claimed it was up to councils to identify more land for development.
