May has made tackling a long-term housing shortage one ofher top priorities as she looks to show voters that hergovernment is capable of delivering domestic reforms at the sametime as negotiating the country's exit from the European Union.
Successive British governments have failed to meethomebuilding targets, contributing to a steep rise in pricesthat has left many young Britons unable to afford a property anddriven up rental prices.
May will take aim at property developers during a speech in
“I expect developers to do their duty to
"I want to see planning permissions going to people who areactually going to build houses, not just sit on land and watchits value rise."
But May wants 300,000 homes to be built per year -- wellabove the 2017 level of around 217,000.
The planning reform will also look at ways local authoritiescan fast-track developments without eating into protected greenspaces, and give nurses, teachers, and other key workerspriority access to affordable housing.
The plans will be subject to an eight week consultation,with the final version due to be published in the summer(Reporting by William JamesEditing by Catherine Evans)