A co-ordinated strategy for the region has been drawn up

The House Builders Federation (HBF) believes the move is threatening the social and economic regeneration of areas, in order to protect green and brown field sites.

On Wednesday the HBF said the "moratorium" was started by West Lancashire District Council (WLDC) and the trend is expected to spread to Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

However, WLDC said it has not banned the building of houses on brown field (previously used) sites, and planning permission is currently being considered on nearly 2000 homes.

The HBF said though the WLDC has only permitted the construction of these homes only to meet government-imposed targets for 2006, and will now not grant any further building until after that date.

This deliberate misuse of a policy designed to ensure the North West builds the homes it needs for a successful future is very serious Pierre Williams, House Builders Federation

Pierre Williams, of the HBF, said authorities are imposing the bans because they are increasingly bowing to pressure by the anti-house building lobby.

"This deliberate misuse of a policy designed to ensure the North West builds the homes it needs for a successful future is very serious," he said.

"The gap between supply and demand is widening by 50,000 a year, which has made house prices rocket to the point where the proportion of first time buyers is at an all-time low."

"Regional Planning Guidance" was recently changed in order to ensure houses are built where there is greatest need, rather than simply in the most desirable locations.

'Builders' appeal'

However, in a statement WLDC said: "Our planning guidance does allow some housing development on brown field sites and where the development...[has] a wide community benefit."

It has made provision to meet housing need until 2013, it said, although it acknowledged a need for more building in the Skelmersdale area.

A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister's Office - which deals with planning issues in the UK - said it is aware of claims the rules have been abused, but said no specific cases have been brought to its attention.

"However, where a house builder feels the rules are being abused they can lodge an appeal against an authority's decision," he said.