HarryM - 11:17 am on Dec 4, 2007 (gmt 0)

The 870,000 empty homes figure may be misleading. It might include houses for sale, those uninhabitable without major expenditure, and vacant rental property.

As to empty commercial property, where is it? On industrial estates? Or owned by supermarkets to stop competitors setting up in that neighbourhood? The usability as housing may not be as great as the figure of "420,000 new homes" suggests.

I think it's easy to demonstrate there is a shortage. If there was a surplus prices would be much lower and based on what buyers can afford, especially first-time buyers. But people are still finding it extremely difficult to get on the housing market.