The Government’s New Homes Accelerator scheme will speed up the construction of thousands of homes
The Government claims to have accelerated the building of almost 100,000 new houses on large sites across England as it moves forward with plans to build 1.5 million homes.
As part of the acceleration, it has confirmed the location of six new sites – in London, the North West, Somerset and the South East of England – where 12,000 new homes will be built.
The rest of the 100,000 “new” homes are made up of developments that were stuck in the planning system but have now been pushed through after Labour took an axe to the red tape around development applications.
Where are Labour’s latest ‘new towns’?
The six sites that will see 12,000 new homes built include Comeytrowe, also known as Orchard Grove, in Somerset; Wisley Airfield in Guildford, Surrey; North Leigh Park in Wigan; and Hampden Fields in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Two sites have also been confirmed in London, at Billet Road in Redbridge and High Road West in Haringey.
Each of the six sites should be made up of at least 25 per cent affordable homes.
Labour has pledged to build 1.5 million homes by 2030 in a bid to tackle the country’s housing crisis – a target it is not on course to meet, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Where are the rest of the 100,000 homes?
The Government said the building of 36,000 new homes will now be completed faster because it has removed regulatory hurdles and provided areas “with more resources to process planning applications”.
It also claims to have helped pushed forward planning proposals for 63,000 other homes by working closely with arms-length bodies and other government departments.
Among these developments is the former Wisley Airfield, in Surrey, which will now become three new neighbourhoods of 1,730 homes, and Worcestershire Parkway in Worcester, where 4,500 will be built.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “We’ve rolled up our sleeves and are breaking down the barriers which stop us from building the houses to buy and rent that families and young people need, helping to speed up the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes already.
“We are continuing to take decisive action through our New Homes Accelerator to speed up the delivery of homes, meet our stretching 1.5 million homes target through the Plan for Change, and get spades in the ground to turn the tide on the housing crisis.”
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan praised the scheme, saying: “I’m pleased the Government is working with London boroughs to unblock housebuilding as part of its plan to deliver the good growth our country needs. I’m determined to use all the powers at my disposal to build the homes Londoners need and get Britain building again.
“I look forward to working with ministers on the action and investment needed to accelerate the delivery of new homes as we continue building a better, fairer London for everyone.”
In May, the Government proposed significant changes to the planning system in England aimed at speeding up housebuilding by reducing the role of elected councillors in deciding on a wide range of development applications.