Local Labour legislation proposals may compel councils to develop residential areas on previously undeveloped, semi-urban regions, often referred to as 'grey belts'.
In a recent announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner unveiled a new housing agenda that aims to tackle the housing crisis in the UK. The agenda includes a radical approach to homelessness, ambitious homebuilding targets, and a focus on senior housing.
Rayner's policies, notably the Housing First initiative, have garnered support from some experts who believe these measures could make a significant impact in reducing homelessness. Housing First has shown strong evidence of success in securing permanent homes and saving public costs across sectors such as healthcare and criminal justice[1].
However, the increase in homebuilding targets faces practical constraints. Some regions are grappling with infrastructural limits, like water companies unable to handle the increased demand from new homes, which could compromise the effectiveness of hitting these targets[2].
The debate around land use is another contentious issue. There are concerns and debates about potential encroachments on allotments and green belt sites. Some critics accuse Rayner of selling off allotments, a sensitive issue for communities, though this narrative appears to be somewhat misrepresented or exaggerated in public debate[3]. The exact impact on green belt land is contested, with no clear consensus.
Supporters of the new agenda emphasize the transformative potential of policies like Housing First and the need to meet ambitious homebuilding goals to address the housing crisis[1]. Critics and logistical experts warn of infrastructure capacity issues that could undermine the delivery of new homes[2]. Community groups and conservation advocates are wary of the possible loss of green belt and allotment spaces, raising concerns about urban sprawl and green space preservation[3].
Under the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), local authorities will be required to build more homes. The new rules will allow councils to review green belt land and identify grey belt sites for potential development. The housing targets for different areas in England have been updated. In the North West, the target has risen from 21,500 to just under 38,000, and in the East, it has risen from 35,000 to almost 45,000.
The New Towns Taskforce, a project created to construct a number of new towns, will be led by Sir Michael Lyons, who chaired a 2014 Labour inquiry into boosting homebuilding. The taskforce's locations will be announced in the next 12 months.
The new Labour government has set a target of 370,000 new homes per year. However, Adrian Plant, director of SOWN, finds the plans encouraging but also disappointing due to the omission of shared ownership from recent announcements. Shared ownership does not necessarily require government subsidy but needs government support in policy and marketing.
Honor Barratt, CEO of Birchgrove, supports Angela Rayner's plan to increase housebuilding but emphasizes the importance of making better use of existing homes. Kemi Badenoch, the shadow housing secretary, has described the reduction in London's target as poor.
A pressing issue in the UK is the lack of housing suitable for seniors. Two-thirds of over-65s have at least two empty spare bedrooms in their home, equating to nine million empty bedrooms every night. A significant number of seniors would move to smaller properties if more suitable senior living was widely available.
This mixed expert reception reflects the complexity of balancing rapid housing development with sustainability and community interests. The new housing agenda, with its ambitious targets and potential impact on green belt sites, is set to shape the UK's housing landscape in the coming years.
[1] Evidence for Housing First [2] Infrastructure challenges in meeting housing targets [3] Allotments and green belt concerns
- The new housing agenda, led by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, includes a focus on education-and-self-development, specifically implementing policies like Housing First, which has shown evidence of success in securing permanent homes for the homeless, thereby potentially impacting general-news and lifestyle.
- The new agenda also aims to meet ambitious homebuilding targets, but some regions face practical infrastructure challenges, such as infrastructural limits impacting water companies, which could compromise the effectiveness of hitting the targets and thus have political implications.
- Supporters of the new agenda highlight the need for radical approaches to homelessness and transformative potential of policies like Housing First, but critics express concerns about potential encroachments on green belt and allotment sites for development, which could raise politics around urban sprawl and green space preservation.
