Affordable housing hit by 'nimby' lobby.

(From Western Daily Press)

Nimby campaigns are contributing to the affordable housing crisis in the South West, the chairman of a housing body has claimed.

Michael Clarke said that groups such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England had a "disproportionate" influence on Government planning policies.

Speaking during a break in the South West Housing Institute's conference on the crisis in Bristol yesterday, he said that priority must be given to ensuring local people had a home.

"The 'Nimby' lobby is very strong and very well organised," said Mr Clarke, chairman of the institute, an independent group representing developers, planners and …