Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Lack of liquidity in the finance market needs addressing.

New reasearch published by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals that 400,000 new homes have planning permission but haven't been completed.

Indeed, in more than half the cases, building hasn't even started.

Meanwhile, government figures show that councils are more positive towards development than ever with the percentage of planning applications being given the green light hitting a ten year high last year.

Even if planning departments did not receive another new home application for the next three years, there are sufficient developments alraedy approved to last until 2016 at the current rate of construction.

It would seem that unlocking frustrated demand, not increasing supply, is the most urgent problem in todays housing market.

Quite what benefit would be achieved by allowing development in areas such as the Hilperton Gap is something that only the developers can see.