Official legislative records and government announcements

Labour to Build 1.5 Million Homes by 2030, Overhauls Planning Laws to Allow Green Belt Development

Dec 12, 2024, 09:24 AM

Labour's government, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister Angela Rayner, has unveiled an ambitious plan through a new National Planning Policy Framework to reform the UK's planning system and deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2030, including building 370,000 homes per year. The strategy involves accelerating housebuilding, providing the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, and potentially allowing development on green belt land covering an area bigger than Surrey. Rayner affirmed, 'I will not hesitate to do what it takes to build 1.5 million new homes.' Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook acknowledged the need for foreign workers in construction, stating, 'We will be reliant on some foreign workers in this space.' The government plans to cap the profits landowners can make from selling green belt land and is prepared to override local objections if necessary, prompting criticism that local residents will lose their say. Critics, including former Home Secretary Priti Patel, have expressed concerns over the environmental impact and the erosion of local democratic consent, with Patel accusing Labour of intending to 'bulldoze over the concerns of local communities' and 'destroy the countryside.' Opposition figures warn that the reforms could harm Britain's countryside, with Kevin Hollinrake asserting, 'The bulldozers will roll in, and you won’t have a say.' Environmental groups such as the National Trust have also criticized the proposals, highlighting issues like the 'bats vs flats' dilemma. Labour MPs from the Labour Growth Group have welcomed the reforms but suggest that further steps, such as a comprehensive Land Use Framework and a ten-year infrastructure strategy, are necessary to fully address the housing crisis.