A NORTHERN think-tank is calling for new housing powers to be given to mayors.

The IPPR North says mayors need more powers to build homes to prevent a London-style housing crisis and help the Government meet its target of building a million new homes by 2020.

Its report Closer to Home says to achieve the goal, new metro mayors are best placed to tackle housing issues and should be given control of building on greenbelt land.

Tees Valley is one of the areas due to get an elected mayor in 2017.

Shadow housing secretary and Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods is due to speak at the launch today.

She said: “Labour agrees that local authorities must be given the tools, flexibilities and devolution of funding needed on the basis of clear commitments that housing need will be met.

“We must put people at the heart of planning and empower councils to be able to deliver the kind of developments their area needs, rather than the centre- driven, ‘one size fits all’ approach that we continue to see from the Government.”

According to the report, brownfield land is in too short supply to meet the government’s million homes target, with data from the North East showing there is capacity for 44,407 homes – but a need for 115,025 homes.

Some powers have already been devolved to some councils, including the ability to integrate new housing with other infrastructure projects, but the government needs to adopt a deal-making approach to housing devolution, the report says.

Among the powers the IPPR says should be devolved are control over the greenbelt, handing mayors the proceeds of stamp duty, and the ability to put levies on empty homes.

It adds mayors should also set out how they would release enough public land to meet targets, speed up the planning system and show how they would help small and medium businesses enter the market.

Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, said: “The Northern Powerhouse and Midlands engine will be driven by mayors, and it’s vital they have the powers to build enough homes – recreating a London housing crisis in regional cities would be a disaster.

“Brownfield land is limited, and it is best decided locally how to meet local housing needs. This includes difficult decisions about the greenbelt.”