More than 1.4 million homes with planning permission have been left unbuilt by developers since 2007, according to a report from the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank.
Common reasons for this include developers wanting to increase the land’s value before selling it on, and land banking to slow building rates and maintain high house prices.
Cllr Adam Hug, LGA Housing Spokesperson, said: “The LGA has long called for government action on the need to tackle slow build-out rates from some developers.
“To deliver the homes we need, government must work with councils and the housebuilding industry to ensure there is a suitable pipeline of sustainable sites, which, once allocated in a local plan and/or given planning permission, are indeed built out.
“Councils approve nine in 10 planning applications, but people cannot and do not live in planning permissions.
“Councils must be given greater powers to ensure prompt build out of sites with planning permission.
“They should also be given the support to ensure they have an up-to-date local plan so they can give certainty to residents and housebuilders.”