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Building Blitz Gets Bill Backing
A new National Planning Policy Framework has introduced mandatory rules for councils to deliver a combined total of 370,000 homes a year – it will be...
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It’s, It’s A Building Blitz
Over 100 sites across England have come forward to be considered for the next generation of new towns, under the biggest housebuilding push since the end of the Second World War.
The government claims it will create communities, affordable homes, and infrastructure including schools, nurseries, GP surgeries and bus routes
By taking on the those who oppose housebuilding, 20,000 homes, along with new schools and health facilities, will move forward immediately, while the government looks to unblock another 700,000 homes across 350 sites.
This all comes as the government rolls out major planning reforms to push through its housebuilding agenda as part of its ‘Plan for Change’.
Starmer
Visiting a housing development on 13 February 2025, the Prime Minister unveiled the government’s plans for the next generation of new towns. Over 100 proposals from across every region in England were submitted, showing local areas and housebuilders’ ambition to get on board to build the next generation of new towns and tackling the worst housing crisis in living memory. Every new town will have the potential to deliver 10,000 homes or more.
For working people
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Delivering security is central to this government’s Plan for Change, as the least working people deserve when they graft hard is a secure home. That’s why the government is providing much-needed housing in the right places with the right infrastructure. The New Towns Taskforce has set clear principles on what the next generation of new towns will deliver.
“For so many families, homeownership is a distant dream. After a decade of decline in housebuilding, the impact is a disconnect between working hard and getting on. This is about more than just bricks and mortar. It’s about the security and stability that owning your own home brings. I know what this means for working people – the roof above our head was everything for our family growing up.
“We’ve already made progress in just seven months, unblocking 20,000 stuck homes. But there’s more to do.
“We’re urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need. We’re sweeping aside the blockers to get houses built, no longer accepting ‘no’ as the default answer and paving the way for the next generation of new towns.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said:
“Time and again we are seeing too many new homes stuck or stalled that not only act as a barrier to growth but also has real-world consequences for working people and families who see homeownership as nothing more than a distant dream.
“I will not run away from the tough choices to fix the housing crisis we inherited that has left thousands of families on housing waiting lists, allowed homelessness to spiral out of control and stopped an entire generation from picking up the keys to their first home.”
New Homes Accelerator
Rayner added: “While our vision for the next generation of new towns is setting the stage for a housebuilding revolution in the years to come, urgent action is needed now to build the homes and infrastructure that our local communities are crying out for. That’s why our New Homes Accelerator is working at pace to find solutions and remove blockages in the system, executing long-lasting solutions to get spades in the ground.
“We’ve seen a staggering 20,000 new homes now successfully unblocked by the government’s ‘New Homes Accelerator’ programme, which deploys planning expertise to speed up the delivery of housing sites held by unnecessary delays.”
Where?
Over 1,000 homes have been unlocked at Cowley Hill in Liverpool, where an agreement has been reached with the Environment Agency which withdrew its previous objections on both flood risk and biodiversity grounds, subject to planning.
Wolborough in Devon, the Accelerator has worked with Natural England to help accelerate this development, whilst ensuring environmental improvements are secured. On top of the 1,100 homes the site is injecting £1.75 million towards off-site pedestrian and cycle improvements, playing pitches, bus services and a local travel plan.
Housebuilders and local councils have put forward over 350 housing development sites stuck in the system under the previous government – that together could unlock around 700,000 new homes.
Around a quarter of sites submitted are already receiving government attention since the call for evidence closed in October. This goes hand-in-hand with government action to overhaul the planning system.
Picture: New towns are on the horizon.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
20th February 2025