Javid blasts Nimbies in new homes push

SAJID Javid last night savaged homeowners who ‘sit on a nice nest egg’ but oppose housing developments.

The Communities and Local Government Secretary said so-called Nimbies were a ‘national outrage’ for blocking the prospects of future generations.

Mr Javid’s comments were supposed to show young people that the Conservatives are on their side when it comes to building homes and fixing what he called the ‘broken housing market’.

But they risk alienating some Tory voters who do not want to see homes built near them. Mr Javid said: ‘Housing is a totemic issue for younger people and I think all Governments, including previous Conservative governments, have not taken this issue seriously enough in the past.

‘We have been listening too much to those people that are against development under any circumstances.

‘They bought their homes 20-30-40 years ago, they are sitting on a nice nest egg, and they don’t want to see the next generation go ahead and that has been completely wrong and we have recognised that.’

His comments on BBC Radio 5 live follow the announcement yesterday of another £10billion for the Help to Buy loan scheme, which is expected to put another 135,000 first-time buyers on the housing ladder.

Mr Javid also revealed landlords would be required to join a redress scheme, to make it easier for wronged tenants to get justice.

All letting agents will have to register and a new housing court could speed up court cases. In his party conference speech, Mr Javid said the planning system was helping those who oppose all development.

‘For decades our planning system has failed to plan for the number of homes we need,’ he said.

‘There has been too much control given to those who will never accept development.’

He said the inability of young people to buy homes was the ‘biggest barrier to social progress in our country today’.

He added: ‘It’s no wonder that we see so many young people angry, feeling left behind. This is a clear injustice at the very heart of our society. For my generation home ownership was something that, if you worked hard enough, you could afford – like my parents, when they moved to the UK, who bought their first home for just £500.

‘For too many growing up today things are very different. Walk down any high street and you’ll see young people with their faces pressed against an estate agent’s window.

‘Trying, and failing, to find a home they can afford. Increasingly, a house seems like something that you have to inherit.’