Government reforms to stop developers “banking” land without building homes have drawn a mixed response by Kent councils and environmental groups.

Theresa May has pledged that steps will be taken against developers who get the go-ahead for homes but decline to build them.

The Prime Minister said in a keynote speech: "I want to see planning permissions going to people who are actually going to build houses, not just sit on land and watch its value rise. I expect developers to do their duty to Britain and build the homes our country needs."

Under a series of proposals, the government said it would give councils power to revoke planning permission after two years if building had not started.

She also confirmed that protection of the Green Belt would not be diluted or weakened.

Hilary Newport, director of Kent CPRE, said: “Nothing is wrong about building new houses but the crisis is one of affordability, not availability. Simply building more and more houses is not going to bring down affordability. What we need is more homes in the right places and that requires social policy.

“What we are keen to see are proper policies that make houses more affordable.

"I think we need to consider a return to social housing because it is impossible for people to get a foot on the housing ladder in London and the south east.”

She questioned whether green belt land could be protected as the government said it would.

“It is difficult to see how it can be when you look at how many houses places like Sevenoaks needs with huge targets," she added.

Cllr Fran Wilson, the Liberal Democrat leader of Maidstone council, said: “I certainly support the idea that where developers have permission, they should not just sit on it.

"For far too long, the view from Westminster has been that it is all the fault of councils. Not all developers abuse [the system] but some do.”

The government confirmed there would be measures to prevent developers evading a requirement to incorporate affordable homes in building scheme.

The Medway Green Party said the government should lift the cap on councils building homes.

It tweeted that it would be better for councils to be able to build their own homes rather than be forced by the government to build more that would be unaffordable.

Cllr Joshua Jones, deputy leader of the opposition Labour group at Dartford council, said:

“Unfortunately these proposals are simply a rehash of what’s has been already been announced. The reality is unless we see radical interventions, such as allowing councils to invest more in building homes, the Chartered Institute of Housing estimates we’re set to see a loss of a further 150,000 houses for social rent, preventing people getting on the housing ladder."