UK Government Plans 1.5 Million Homes, Green Belt Development, 370,000 Annually

Dec 12, 2024, 09:45 AM

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner, has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the planning system to address the country's acute housing crisis. The initiative aims to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years, with an annual target of 370,000 homes. Key measures include mandatory housing targets for local councils, prioritization of brownfield sites, and potential development on green belt land, which has sparked significant controversy. The South East is expected to see a significant increase in housing targets, while London's housing target has been slightly reduced. The government has also allocated £100 million to help councils update local plans, recruit 300 additional planning officers, and reclassify certain green belt areas as lower-value "grey belt" land for development. Critics, including environmental groups and local councils, have raised concerns about the environmental impact, feasibility of targets, and the bypassing of local democratic processes. The reforms represent the most significant review of planning policy in decades, with proponents arguing that they are necessary to address the housing shortage and make homeownership attainable for more people.