Housing Secretary Steve Reed has acknowledged that his role may be at risk regarding the commitment to construct 1.5 million new homes in England. However, two experts have suggested that the government may fail to meet this target. Professor Paul Cheshire, a planning policy advisor, stated that achieving this objective seems highly unlikely. Neil Jefferson, representative of the Home Builders Federation, noted that the target appears increasingly unattainable, with current housebuilding rates stagnating at approximately 200,000 new homes per year, far below the required 300,000.
Reed remains optimistic, asserting his commitment to meet the housing goal. He indicated that widespread skepticism surrounding the plan could make success more rewarding. The 1.5 million homes initiative, crucial to Labour’s manifesto, is intended to unfold over the current Parliament, concluding in 2029. Reed expects to be held accountable if the target is not reached.
One challenge is the planning process, which is often determined by elected local councillors rather than trained planning officers. This can result in conflicts between national housing goals and local opposition. Furthermore, less than one-third of councils in England currently have up-to-date local plans, which can facilitate development approval.
Reed proposed that councils will soon be mandated to produce local plans more swiftly, with an aim of 30 months instead of the current average of seven years. In addition, the government aims to enhance funding and support for planning authorities. Reforms regarding the use of protected green belt land, which currently comprises 12.5% of England, have also been suggested. The government introduced the concept of a “grey belt” to simplify planning permissions for lower-quality green belt land.
Despite these proposed changes, Professor Cheshire expressed skepticism that they would significantly alter the current situation, suggesting that the reforms might not be sufficient to achieve the housing target.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj41v5g87w1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss