Developers could get automatic planning permission to build on disused industrial sites in England.
Ministers would also get powers to seize disused land, while major housing projects could be fast-tracked, and rules on extensions in London relaxed.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled the plans as part of a broader push to boost Britain's productivity.
It came as official figures showed new house building fell by 5.8% in May, the sharpest decline in nearly four years.
There is a question mark over whether building more homes will boost productivity as much as ministers claim and Labour said the Conservatives had a record of making "empty promises" over the past five years.
Treasury sources say workers are more productive when they live closer to their jobs - but critics say increasing airport capacity and electrifying the Transpennine rail line would have a much bigger effect.
Emran Mian, a director of the Social Market Foundation think tank, said: "I think if I was thinking about a productivity plan, housing wouldn't be the first issue I would leap to."
Electrification of the Trans Pennine line between Manchester and Leeds and a section of the Midland Mainline has been delayed and a decision on a third runway at Heathrow, recommended by an independent commission, will not be made until the end of the year.
~~~~ysts have also questioned whether there is enough brownfield land - a term which refers to land that has previously been developed but is vacant or derelict - available to meet the UK's housing needs over the next 15 years.
Now if they're going to make it easier for companies to build houses nearer the jobs, why do the government insist on building HS2 which enables people to live further away again? Oh yes, that's it, build houses, get people in over their heads while the mortgage rate is low, so that when the rate goes up banks can repossess them, almost forgot that part. The government seem to actively encourage a shortage in housing to drive house prices up anyway, again I can only think so that people feel they have enough equity to get themselves deeper in debt, as they spend money they haven't got giving rise to teh government to be able to say recovery is working because people are spending more. *shrug*
Ministers would also get powers to seize disused land, while major housing projects could be fast-tracked, and rules on extensions in London relaxed.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled the plans as part of a broader push to boost Britain's productivity.
It came as official figures showed new house building fell by 5.8% in May, the sharpest decline in nearly four years.
There is a question mark over whether building more homes will boost productivity as much as ministers claim and Labour said the Conservatives had a record of making "empty promises" over the past five years.
Treasury sources say workers are more productive when they live closer to their jobs - but critics say increasing airport capacity and electrifying the Transpennine rail line would have a much bigger effect.
Emran Mian, a director of the Social Market Foundation think tank, said: "I think if I was thinking about a productivity plan, housing wouldn't be the first issue I would leap to."
Electrification of the Trans Pennine line between Manchester and Leeds and a section of the Midland Mainline has been delayed and a decision on a third runway at Heathrow, recommended by an independent commission, will not be made until the end of the year.
~~~~ysts have also questioned whether there is enough brownfield land - a term which refers to land that has previously been developed but is vacant or derelict - available to meet the UK's housing needs over the next 15 years.
Now if they're going to make it easier for companies to build houses nearer the jobs, why do the government insist on building HS2 which enables people to live further away again? Oh yes, that's it, build houses, get people in over their heads while the mortgage rate is low, so that when the rate goes up banks can repossess them, almost forgot that part. The government seem to actively encourage a shortage in housing to drive house prices up anyway, again I can only think so that people feel they have enough equity to get themselves deeper in debt, as they spend money they haven't got giving rise to teh government to be able to say recovery is working because people are spending more. *shrug*
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