Labour Housing Plans – Angela Rayner Announces New-Build Target

Following their election victory in July 2024, the new Labour government is sticking to its plans to radically increase the building of new homes around the UK. Angela Rayner, the deputy Prime Minister, has stated Labour’s new housing target is to build more than 370,000 homes per year – considerably more than the 300,000 set out in their election manifesto.

What will Labour do about housing?

By 2029, Labour plans to build 1.5 million new homes across the UK. To achieve this in their five-year reign, they would need to build 300,000 new homes per year – considerably more than the 200,000 achieved last year by the Conservative government.

However, due to the “urgent” housing crisis facing the UK, Deputy PM and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ms Rayner, has stated that the new Labour housing target is now 370,000 homes per year.

Speaking to the House of Commons, Ms Rayner said the country is facing “the most acute housing crisis in living history” after the previous government abolished housing targets.

Mandatory housing targets are to be restored and 50% of new housing must be affordable “with a focus on social rent”, according to Ms Rayner.

How do Labour plan on increasing new-builds?

How can Labour reach their housing targets, though? Per GOV.UK, the Labour government has announced an ‘overhaul of the planning system’ to get “Britain Building”.

The plan to reach the new Labour housing target of 370,000 new-builds per year requires the following changes:

• Overhaul of the planning system that will see new mandatory building targets for councils.
• Review of the greenbelt to identify ‘grey belt’ land and meet local housing needs, with ‘golden rules’ driving 50% delivery of affordable homes.
• A new system to ensure every area has local housing plans – the government will take the decisions to step in if areas fall off track. Ms Rayner has announced that the method used to calculate how many houses are needed in a specific area is to be changed. This is to “better reflect the urgency of supply for local areas”.

As such, London targets have decreased from 100,000 to 80,000. Ms Rayner said the Labour housing plan was “radical” and “controversial”, but “urgent”.

Brownfield housing plans

According to Ms Rayner, brownfield development is Labour’s “first port of call” as they aim to promote higher-density building of new homes in urban centres.

To achieve this, low-quality green belt land must be freed up for construction. Plus, a new definition of what constitutes ‘low-quality green belt land’ would also be provided.

Developers must also continue to provide finances for supportive infrastructure like schools, transport links, GP surgeries and improvements to accessible green space.

While developers already must do this, Labour is determined to change “the previous government’s haphazard approach to building on the green belt that has seen so many of the wrong homes built in the wrong places without local services that people need”.

Will Labour build council houses?

Ms Rayner has also claimed that there will be a “council house revolution” as Labour targets the “biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation”.

Plans will be put into place to provide local authorities “rent stability” to borrow and invest. They will also be required to have up-to-date development plans to make them less vulnerable to speculative developments.

The Right to Buy initiative will also be looked at by Ms Rayner and the Labour government, who may seek to make changes.

What will the future look like?

The UK is in the midst of a housing crisis. We covered the key figures and details in a recent blog about Labour housing targets.

It’s clear that the new government is targeting housing as a key issue to try and solve, and urgently.

At ABC+ Warranty, we’ll stay on top of any developments in the housing industry, and let you know every small detail.

For property developers building new homes over the next few years, we can offer you a fantastic new build warranty. We also offer a social housing warranty, a Professional Consultants’ Certificate, and more.

If you’re interested, simply get in touch with us and one of our friendly team will be happy to help.