A RESEARCH report published today, Tuesday, says that 90 per cent of local authorities will fail to meet the Government's housing target of building one million homes by 2020.

The report suggests authorities such as Wigan Council are under resourced to take on the challenge and that it will not be achieved without a cash injection.

Despite the gloomy report Wigan Council says that its planning department has 'continued to perform well'.

The report, which was produced by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), found that:

• 64 per cent of builders and 45 per cent of local authorities see lack of planning resources as a barrier to developing more small sites

• More than half of councils deliver fewer than 40 per cent of homes on small sites

• Builders and local authorities call for councils to be allowed to raise planning application fees.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “The Government aim to build one million new homes by 2020 won’t be realised unless more small and medium housebuilders can enter the housing market.

"The Government deserves some credit for the priority it is now placing on house building, but unless planning departments have enough experienced planners on the ground our housing targets will be nothing more than aspirational.”

Mike Worden, Wigan Council’s assistant director for planning and infrastructure, said: “Despite the council being one of the worst hit nationally by austerity with £100 million of savings made since 2010, and a further £60 million to go to 2020, the council’s planning department has continued to perform well.

“We are recognised as one of the best authorities nationally for our speed in determining planning applications, and 100 per cent of our major planning applications are determined within national targets.

"In a recent independent survey of applicants we were scored as ‘excellent’.

“We also have an up-to-date development plan.”