The key detail not mentioned in that article is that this is primarily an issue of London, which the rest of the country does not share. Outside London, house p

The key detail not mentioned in that article is that this is primarily an issue of London, which the rest of the country does not share. Outside London, house prices are a lot more reasonable and there isn't really a major shortage. The planning permission details in there appear to be a distraction - release of low-value "green belt" land, like that pictured in the article, does happen where needed. The big problem in London is that any proposal for new construction will be met with fierce opposition from nearby homeowners on the grounds of congested roads, limited parking space, overuse of local amenities, and lowering the value of their own properties.