Speaking at Housebuilder’s Housing Market Intelligence conference in London, Alexander said that the public sector held 40% of development sites and that “we shouldn’t act as a compulsive hoarder”.
He said: “If the government is holding land that you think we can make better use of we will sell it on the open market and use the proceeds to pay down the debt.”
He acknowledged the “vocal critics” of the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme who feared a housing bubble but said that market data contradicted their concerns.
He added that the Bank of England would alert the government to any overheating in the market.
He said: “Those who think there is a housing bubble should get out of London more.”
Also speaking at the conference shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn said that Labour would “broadly speaking” keep the National Planning Policy Framework
She said: “Local councils must take responsibility for their housing need under the NPPF.”
