Build, Build, Build

Rachel Reeves MP today delivered her first keynote speech which set out the new Government’s aspirations for encouraging growth, and in particular seeking to push house building to levels not seen since the 1950s.

 

She stated that ‘this Labour government has been elected on a mandate to get things done and get Britain building….’ To this end she has once more reiterated the need to build 300,000 new homes each year. The Chancellor identified a number of key decisions that have been made which will seek to speed up the planning system. These are:  

 

• A reform of the NPPF before the end of the month – including restoring mandatory housebuilding targets;
• Build 1.5m homes by the end of this parliament - including affordable and council homes;
• End the onshore wind farm ban;
• Create a new task force to accelerate stalled housing sites;
• Support local authorities with 300 additional planning officers across the country;
• Review planning applications previously turned down that could help the economy;
• The review of Greenbelt land will be required;
• Prioritise brownfield and greybelt land for development to meet housing targets when needed;
• Reform the planning system to "deliver the infrastructure that our country needs"; and
• Set out new policy intentions for critical infrastructure in the coming months.

 

To set out the new administration’s stall, the Chancellor has confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister (@Angela Rayner MP) is reconsidering planning appeals for data centres in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. The Government have also given the ‘green light’ for 14,000 new homes at Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester, Northstowe and Langley Sutton Coldfield.

 

When asked whether this was a case of the Government declaring war on NIMBYs, the Chancellor responded by stating "it will still be in the first instance for local communities and local authorities to decide where housing is built. We will bring back those mandatory housing targets, so the answer cannot always be no."

 

A further question was asked as to whether too much emphasis was placed upon private sector investment as the level of growth proposed has not been achieved without significant Government intervention. In response, she did emphasise the importance of private sector investment but identified that the government would step in on ‘stalled sites’ and would ensure that the right type of housing delivery would happen. 

 

It is clear that the new administration is eager to demonstrate the importance of growth, and that there will be a clear push to ensure that the planning system helps to deliver that growth. As ever, the delivery of these aspirations will depend on local interpretation, and in time, emerging case law, nevertheless the rhetoric of the Government will no doubt give the industry confidence and it is hoped that this alone will provide a boost to the sector.