POLITICIANS faced tough questions from North-East estate agents yesterday about their plans to help boost the housing market.

Members of the North-East Property Forum had a chance to question all three candidates fighting for the chance to become Darlington’s next MP – Edward Legard (Conservative), Jenny Chapman (Labour) and Mike Barker (Liberal Democrats).

They called for moves to stimulate lending, more help for first-time buyers and an end to business rates on empty properties.

Geoff Graham, of JW Wood, told the trio: “We need a boost to help firsttime buyers and we need help with access to more finance.

Without a buoyant housing market, the economy is going to lag behind.”

Gordon Carver, of Nick and Gordon Carver Residential, said: “We need something more specific for young people than changes to stamp duty.”

Labour candidate Jenny Chapman said the Government had raised the stamp duty threshold to £250,000 to help first-time buyers.

The move, announced in the Budget, could save buyers up to £25,000. Ms Chapman said: “I would like to hold it at the current level for as long as we can.”

She said she would support moves to offer extra help to first-time buyers, possibly using the Post Office as a vehicle to offer lower cost loans.

Julie Wallin, of Carver Commercial Chartered Surveyors, criticised the tax on empty business properties. The amount of empty commercial floor space has fallen dramatically since the rates were introduced in April 2008.

David Jackson, of Sanderson Weatherall, said: “We have a real shortage in Darlington. I have a client who needs an office and wants to move in on Monday – there is only one building in the whole of the town that is available to him.

“Developers who build on spec find themselves paying money on empty offices until a tenant comes along – they can’t afford to do it so office space lags way behind demand.”

Mr Legard said delegating more powers to local councils would enable authorities to offer a “holiday”

on business rates on empty offices.

“Planning regulation is absolutely key,” he added.

“That is why we want to simplify things, thereby encouraging local people to take the decisions for themselves.”

Mike Barker said the Lib Dems wanted to abolish the controversial Home Information Packs – a pledge shared with the Conservatives – but retain some energy efficiency aspects.

“We would bring empty properties back into the market and make it easier for local authorities to offer cost-effective housing to people on low incomes.

The only way to sustain a strong housing market is to grow it from the bottom up,” he said.

Forum chairman Tim Haggie, a senior partner at Latimer Hinks, said overregulation of the market was making it difficult for developers.

He ended the meeting with a plea to all three candidates to review planning regulation with a view to making it simpler and more straightforward.

Forum members in attendance were: Tim Haggie, chairman, Geoff Graham, JW Wood, Gordon Carver, Nick and Gordon Carver Residential, Simon Bainbridge, Smiths Gore, Ian Taylor, Your Move Scott-Collier Taylor, Julie Wallin, Carver Commercial, David Jackson, Sanderson Weatherall, Jamie Cameron, Stanton Mortimer, Steve McOwan, George F White.

■ You can watch a video of the candidates pitching their policies for housing market growth at north ernecho.co.uk