Removing Regional Targets does not remove Housing Need.  Shelter (the homelessness charity) identified 1.76m households on Council waiting lists in April 2008, with a further 0.5m in overcrowded accommodation.  At a time of recognised housing shortage, abandoning the delivery policy of any political party, without providing a clear transitional mechanism and a replacement policy, has the potential for devastating consequences to those in need of housing, and to the house building industry at a time of fragile economic recovery.”