“Our New Homes Accelerator will quickly identify blockages, fix problems and support local authorities and developers to get shovels in the ground.”
Government analysis has so far uncovered 200 large sites which have outline or detailed plans ready but are yet to begin construction.
The team has already started work on some sites and has plans to intervene at stalled sites including Stretton Hall in Leicestershire, Tendring in Essex and Biggleswade Garden Community in Central Bedfordshire, which have the potential to unlock more than 10,000 new homes when completed.
The New Homes Accelerator was announced as part of chancellor Rachel Reeves speech outlining the government’s national mission to drive growth in July.
Ministers said progress has been made on four large housing sites since then, promising 14,000 homes across Liverpool, Worcester, Northstowe and Sutton Coldfield.
Labour has launched a call for evidence asking landowners, local authorities and housebuilders to come forward with details of blocked sites experiencing significant planning issues.
David O’Leary, executive director of the Home Builders Federation, said: “The planning process and everything associated with it delivers too little land and has long been a significant constraint on house building.
“Government has shown a welcome desire in the weeks since the election to address the problems. A lack of planning department capacity and misaligned incentives for other public bodies and statutory consultees has created a process with huge uncertainty. This creates an abundance of risk resulting in longer development timescales and severe challenges in particular for small and medium-sized house builders.
“Adopting a pragmatic approach to planning will increase the pace at which new homes are built and help to turn around ailing housing supply.”
Councillor Claire Holland, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said that Labour’s New Homes Accelerator can help ease the housing pressures facing councils, leaving some to local authorities at the risk of effective bankruptcy.
“Addressing the shortage of all types and tenures of housing, including affordable and social homes, in this country remains top of the priority list for councils,” said Holland.
“Working together to unblock stalled sites through the New Homes Accelerator will deliver more of the homes we need and help to reduce councils’ reliance on temporary accommodation and to tackle homelessness.
“This announcement is a positive step, and we are pleased with the government’s intention to work in genuine partnership with councils and other key development partners to remove barriers to development whilst protecting the environment.”
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