Angela Rayner house says Labour’s building boost will pump £6.8 billion into the economy within years – letting ministers put more funding into the NHS and public services, without extra spending or borrowing. Writing for the Mirror, the Deputy Prime Minister said social rent properties would be a priority in Labour ’s housing push, which aims to build 1.5m homes by 2029.
“Thanks to the government’s planning reforms, the Treasury’s own watchdog says UK housebuilding will soon reach its highest rate in 40 years,” she said. “A £6.8 billion boost to the economy the Office for Budget Responsibility predicts will feed through by 2029. That means more money that can go to public services like our NHS and help the whole of society – without spending or cutting a single penny.”
Housebuilding was the surprise boost in Rachel Reeves ’ Spring Statement speech on Wednesday. In a moment of brightness among the gloom – Ms Reeves revealed the Office for Budget Responsibility had forecast the government’s planning changes would give a huge boost to the economy.
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework alone will “help build over 1.3 million homes” across the UK in the next five years, she said – putting them in “touching distance” of delivering on their manifesto promise of 1.5 million in England by 2029.
The government believes other measures – including the beefed up planning and infrastructure bill and the next round of the affordable homes programme – will boost building enough to hit the target.
“We want more working people to finally have a place to call home, with the safety and security to build a better life for themselves and their families,” Ms Rayner wrote.
“There’s still a long way to go to meet our tough target of building 1.5 million homes in England in this Parliament. But our Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also make things happen. We’re taking the brakes off – and already we’re surging ahead and seizing the promise of generational change.”
By ANGELA RAYNER, Deputy Prime Minister
We’re raising the roof – and that’s official. Thanks to the government’s planning reforms, the Treasury’s own watchdog says UK housebuilding will soon reach its highest rate in 40 years.
A £6.8 billion boost to the economy the Office for Budget Responsibility predicts will feed through by 2029. That means more money that can go to public services like our NHS and help the whole of society – without spending or cutting a single penny. This is personal to me because I remember how a secure home changed my life. But today, too many people are struggling to find a decent place to rent, let alone get on the property ladder.
For too long not enough houses have been built in this country, and too many people have been left unable to afford a place to call home. Under our Plan for Change we’re already making inroads in tackling the housing crisis we inherited, and unlocking the dream of a secure home for generations who have been left behind.
The lack of decent homes held back hard-working families, meant older folk couldn’t downsize, and stopped young people from moving out from their parents’ houses. We want more working people to finally have a place to call home, with the safety and security to build a better life for themselves and their families.
There’s still a long way to go to meet our tough target of building 1.5 million homes in England in this Parliament. But our Planning and Infrastructure Bill will also make things happen. We’re taking the brakes off – and already we’re surging ahead and seizing the promise of generational change.
I know how fed up people are of the ‘computer says no’ attitude that blocks new homes from going up. That’s why our changes will streamline the planning system and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. We’re also making changes so it will be quicker and cheaper to unblock land for affordable housing and infrastructure.
That’s important because it saves time and money and allows developers to focus on what really matters. Building homes for the people who need them most.
Last week we also announced a £2 billion down payment to build thousands of new affordable homes, with a priority for social rent. Then there’s our new plans to release unused public land for housing, such as Ministry of Defence sites. Network Rail, too, is using surplus land to build nearly 40,000 homes over the next decade.
This week we’ve put £600 million investment to boost training and tackle skills shortages in the construction industry. Funding will enable training of up to 60,000 skilled construction workers by 2029, including joiners, bricklayers, electricians and engineers. Building the homes we need will create good jobs for the next generation.
Across this Labour government, it’s an all-in effort to get spades in the ground and get Britain building. Everyone deserves a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home, and these planning reforms are just the beginning of delivering our Plan for Change.
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