ITV West are currently looking to speak with people who feel they have lost money by investing with land banking companies in the West or South West of England. If the land you purchased hasn’t increased in value or you feel you are stuck with a worthless investment, please e-mail us at BiteBack.

New curbs to protect High Streets and block out-of-town superstores are to be at the centre of the Government's overhaul of planning laws.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly will next week announce that all councils will have a right to reject any application that has a negative impact on town centre retailers.

The planning White Paper, to be published on Monday, will also make clear that Ms Kelly has rejected recommendations to allow more building on the green belt.

The independent Barker Report last year triggered uproar among conservationists by suggesting that rules could be relaxed to allow developers to build on green belt land. But Ms Kelly has decided against any changes.

(Via ThisisMoney.co.uk. To read the full story, click here)

(See also the similarly titled, earlier post here.)

Since the FSA started to act against companies which had been offering collective investment schemes without proper authorisation, most land banking companies now clearly state in their published materials, both printed and on the web, that they do not offer collective investment schemes.

Check land bankers' literature and web sites for disclaimers regarding collective investment schemes, the Financial Services and Markets Act and, occasionally, abbreviations like FSMA.