UK overhauls rules on home-building to boost productivity

London

BRITAIN'S government said on Friday it would remove obstacles to building new houses as it tries to tackle a chronic shortage of homes and put its economy on a sounder footing.

At the centre of a new programme to boost Britain's poor productivity record are powers for the government to step in and draw up housing plans if local authorities fail to do so.

Town halls that drag their feet on planning de…