The Government's approach to increasing housebuilding via the planning system has been described as ‘trite nonsense' by an MP.

Officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) faced criticism from the Public Accounts Committee yesterday over the planning system after director of planning Simon Gallagher revealed 41 councils still do not have local plans detailing where housing required in their areas will be located while 139 require updating.