As the three-way battle between the major parties reaches its climax, we give you a run down of policies that would affect public property after the election.
Labour: Keep steady
Efficiency savings
Labour wants to push ahead with cuts to property running costs, axe unneeded quangos and “sharply” reduce spending on consultants. It says this would save £20bn a year by 2012-13 and have reiterated plans to sell public property. In March, it announced a £35bn sell-off of local government assets.
Housing and regeneration
Vaguely pledges to give councils more power to finance and develop …

The Conservatives would give London mayor Boris Johnson more control over property and development in the capital if David Cameron’s party wins the general election on Thursday.
The Tories have also today confirmed plans to introduce mayors to 12 major UK cities, while giving Johnson responsibility for the £1.1bn budget of the London Homes and Communities Agency.
A spokesperson said: “We think Boris has worked well in London, and we think it would be beneficial to have the same kind of structure elsewhere.”
The pledge builds on an idea suggested by the Conservatives …

Public sector workers were invited to help cut bureaucracy and targets by the Conservatives last week.
If this was done effectively, planners would have reason to celebrate.
On 17 April, the Conservatives published their public sector manifesto, An Invitation to Public Sector Workers, which promises the UK’s “demoralised, disrespected and unrecognised” public sector workforce that they will cut targets and bureaucracy if they win power. Planning experts warn there is a delicate balance to strike between cutting back Labour’s targets and giving planners too much autonomy.
The Conservatives want to give councils more …

The Liberal Democrats have today pledged support for the Conservatives’ proposed overhaul to the planning system.
The Lib Dems want to introduce third-party right of appeal where applications contradict local plans and axe quangos including the Infrastructure Planning Commission, according to its 109-page election manifesto, which was published today. These back up policies set out in the Tory manifesto on Tuesday.
The Lib Dem document, simply called “Manifesto 2010″, also pledges to end ‘garden grabbing’ and backs Competition Commission calls for a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail …

Unite has attacked David Cameron and the Conservative party today for their £6bn plans for public sector efficiency savings.
Cameron was likened to a “third-rate Masterchef contestant” for “offering up the same tired menu of public expenditure cuts” by Unite assistant general secretary for the public sector, Gail Cartmail.
She said: “What the Conservatives fail to realise is that local government in particular, and the public sector generally, are economic generators in their own right.
“In a number of cities as many as two thirds of the economically active are employed in the …

The Conservative Party has come under fire from the industry on its planning “green paper”. However, the Tories have support from one important source: the Liberal Democrats
On 11 March, Lib Dem shadow chancellor Vince Cable pledged his support for localism at the State of the Nation conference on regeneration and infrastructure at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in Westminster, London, hosted by CB Richard Ellis.
Cable said local planning authorities should be given more powers. His support could be key for the Tories …

What it is: The Conservative Party has launched a ‘green paper’ of changes it would make to the planning system if it wins power at the 2010 general election.
When it came out: 22 February 2010
Why it is important: The Conservatives plan some major changes to the planning system including giving local residents more powers over planning policy in their area, abolishing the Infrastructure Planning Commission, and introducing third party rights of appeal.
To read the full document click here: Open Source Planning green paper

The Conservative Party could miss its chance to lead on development after opposing too many schemes while in opposition, property consultant King Sturge has warned.
Today, King Sturge revealed its predictions for 2010. It warned that the Conservatives could miss the chance to lead on development if they won the general election, which has to be held by June 2010.
The consultant said Conservative councillors have spent too much time opposing developments and that it will be difficult for them to go back on these promises because their local support is based …