Developers that do not build homes quickly enough could have their land seized by local authorities, in plans being proposed by the government.
Councils will be encouraged to use compulsory purchase powers to take “stalled” sites from companies and then auction off the land to other builders, with the proceeds of the auction being paid to the original developer.
The policy — reminiscent of the “use it or lose it” measures mooted by Ed Miliband, then the labour leader, in 2013 — came as the government accused some developers of “landbanking”, or holding on to a site and waiting for it to rise in value before building homes to make a larger profit.
In a housing white paper presented by Sajid Javid, the communities secretary,
