YOUR special report highlighted the acute housing crisis in York (The Press, June 13), but did not get to the root cause of why so few homes are being built to meet the ever-increasing need.

In recent decades governments of all persuasions have failed to commission any substantial numbers of new social homes, preferring instead to abdicate responsibility and rely on the private sector to build and fund the vast majority of new housing, including subsidised dwellings. The private sector isn’t building because it is just not worth it any more. The difficulties and risks are enormous while the potential rewards are minimal. Many politicians try to blame the economic downturn and availability of finance, but these are not the major causes of the collapse of house-building. It is without doubt the never-ending series of onerous regulations and obligations heaped on the industry.

Here in York we have a Labour controlled council that is in complete denial of reality and insists in pursuing unachievable affordable housing policies.

The lesson to be learned is this: sweep away as much as possible the excessive burdens crippling the industry and return to a regulatory regime that is more balanced and sensible.

Matthew Laverack, Architect and former house-builder, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York.