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Get Britain Building Could Bulldoze Building
Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer plan to build 1.5 million homes over five years if elected. They will fund it through reforms to stamp duty – but one...
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Reeves Peeved At Timid Torries – Building Boom Promised
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised to get Britain building houses and has pointed a finger at her ‘timid’ predecessors who couldn’t get homes built because they were too afraid to upset nimbys.
In her first speech in her new position, Reeves said: “The question is not whether we want growth but how strong is our resolve – how prepared are we to make hard choices and face down the vested interests. How willing are we to risk short-term political pain to fix Britain’s foundations.
“The story of the last fourteen years has been a refusal to confront the tough and responsible decisions that are demanded.”
Planning reform
Reeves went on to say that nowhere is decisive reform needed more urgently than in the case of the planning system.
She said: “Planning reform has become a byword for political timidity in the face of vested interests and a graveyard of economic ambition.
“Our antiquated planning system leaves too many important projects getting tied up in years and years of red tape before shovels ever get into the ground.”
First weekend in power
Over the weekend immediately after the landslide election, Reeves met with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister to agree the urgent action needed to fix the planning system.
Reeves said afterwards: Alongside the Deputy Prime Minister, I am taking immediate action to deliver this government’s mission to kickstart economic growth. And to take the urgent steps necessary to build the infrastructure that we need, including one and a half million homes over the next five years.”
Reeves went on to put some flesh on the bones of her commitment, saying: “First, we will reform the National Planning Policy Framework, consulting on a new growth-focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month, including restoring mandatory housing targets.”
Her second target is focussed on energy infrastructure projects.
Third comes the creation of a new taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites in the UK – beginning with Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester Parkway, Northstowe and Langley Sutton Coldfield, representing more than 14,000 homes.
Reeves said: “Fourth, we will also support local authorities with 300 additional planning officers across the country.
“Fifth, if we are to put growth at the centre of our planning system, that means changes not only to the system itself but to the way that ministers use our powers for direct intervention.
”The Deputy Prime Minister has said that when she intervenes in the economic planning system, the benefit of development will be a central consideration and that she will not hesitate to review an application where the potential gain for the regional and national economies warrant it.”
Get on with it
Reeves added: To facilitate this new approach, the Deputy Prime Minister will also write to local mayors and the Office for Investment to ensure that any investment opportunity with important planning considerations that comes across their desks is brought to her attention and also to mine.
”The Deputy Prime Minister will also write to Local Planning Authorities alongside the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, making clear what will now be expected of them including universal coverage of local plans, and reviews of greenbelt boundaries. These will prioritise Brownfield and grey belt land for development to meet housing targets where needed.
And our golden rules will make sure the development this frees up will allow us to deliver thousands of the affordable homes too, including more for social rent.
Sixth
“Sixth, as well as unlocking new housing, we will also reform the planning system to deliver the infrastructure that our country needs.”
Abandoning the status quo
Reeves concluded: “I know that there will be opposition to our measures. And we must acknowledge that trade-offs always exist as any development may have environmental consequences, place pressure on services and rouse voices of local opposition.
“But we will not succumb to a status quo which responds to the existence of trade-offs by always saying no and relegates the national interest below other priorities.
”Be in no doubt – we are going to get Britain building again.”
Picture: Chancellor Rachel Reeves is on the side of house building without delays.
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
12th July 2024