Mon, 20 Oct 2025

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 Housing secretary says 'job on the line' over 1.5m housing target

Housing secretary tells BBC Panorama widespread scepticism will make hitting target "all the sweeter".
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has vowed to meet his target of building 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029, despite two leading experts warning that the government will likely miss its goal. Prof Paul Cheshire and Neil Jefferson, an expert from the Home Builders Federation, have told BBC Panorama that current housebuilding rates are "flatlining" at around 200,000 per year, falling short of the required 300,000 annually. According to Mr Jefferson, several factors are contributing to the industry's struggles, including a cumbersome planning process, environmental regulations, and skill shortages. He also pointed out that many big or controversial planning applications are decided by local councillors rather than trained planners, leading to conflicting priorities between national policies and local opposition. Reed has pledged to force councils to adopt up-to-date "local plans" outlining where development should happen, with a new requirement for them to produce a plan within 30 months of starting the process. He also announced increased funding and training for planning authorities to help them create these plans. Additionally, the government has proposed changes to the rules governing protected green belt land, introducing a new concept called the "grey belt" to make it easier to get planning permission for low-quality or already-developed areas. However, Prof Cheshire criticized this approach as vague and subject to local lobbying, which he believes will hinder the target's success. Reed remains confident that his department can meet its goal, saying that widespread scepticism will only make achieving it "celebration all the sweeter".
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