Conservative Party planning policies have come under fire from four leading UK property companies this week even before the party has published its long-awaited planning policy paper.

A coalition called Building Futures – comprising private developers Land Securities, Segro, Countryside Properties and Places for People – said Tory plans for “localism” would encourage nimbyism and put development at risk. However, the group said it would support some Conservative policies, such as the introduction of development incentives for local authorities.

Building Futures commissioned ComRes to look at the Conservative plans and plans to meet shadow planning minister Bob Neill to present its findings. For example, it found that half of councillors thought government housing targets were too high.

John Oldham, chief town planner at Countryside Properties, said: “If the industry is to encourage economic recovery, we have to lift the burden of the planning programme.”

The Conservatives also came under fire from the private sector on Tuesday when property consultant King Sturge said it would be difficult for the party to be pro-development if it won the next general election because its local support was based on opposing schemes. It made the prediction during an event looking at what it expected to happen in 2010.

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