PLANNERS in the New Forest are vowing to take action against developers in a move that could result in new homes standing empty.

The district council has decided to adopt a get-tough policy with construction firms that start to build schemes without waiting for planning permission.

The clampdown will penalise builders by holding up the sale of flats and houses while the authority reviews the case.

Members of the council's planning committee hope the prospect of a delay will act as a deterrent and encourage companies to obey the rules.

Councillors claim developers often jump the gun if they think their applications are about to be approved.

It happens when members stop short of formally granting permission, but instruct officers to give consent once the applicants agree to certain conditions and sign what is known as a Section 106 agreement.

In future, officers will withhold permission and send the application back to the committee if work starts before the agreement is signed.

Councillors are unlikely to reject a scheme that has had a favourable reception at a previous meeting.

However, council chiefs say house sales will be delayed because solicitors acting for prospective buyers will not allow their clients to purchase properties that have yet to receive consent.

The new policy was unveiled at a meeting of the committee.

Chris Elliott, head of development control, said: "There has been a rash of cases where the committee has given me authority to approve a proposal, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.

"Often there are extensive negotiations over the terms of the agreement - and while those are going on the developer is building away on site.

"In future I will not utilise any delegated authority but will bring it back to the committee for further discussion. The developer will not be able to sell any homes until permission has been granted."

However, the House Builders' Federation defended developers and hit out at the "tortuous" process of obtaining consent for new homes.

A spokesman said: "In some cases builders get on with the job while awaiting the long, drawn-out business of obtaining planning permission to be completed."