The new Labour government has made a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes in England between now and 2029. This ambitious, forward-looking plan is driving an effort to address their ongoing housing crisis and jumpstart economic growth. Our recent report, from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), makes alarming reading. They ask if we’re kidding ourselves thinking we can actually do this super out there goal.
The EAC’s findings indicate that the measures outlined in the government’s housing bill are insufficient to facilitate the construction of the promised homes. The report points to a number of challenges that threaten to stymie this progress, from mixed messaging on policies to continued land banking measure.
The EAC asserts that “the government must not veer down the path of viewing nature as an inconvenience or blocker to housebuilding.” The committee adamantly supports an all-of-the-above approach. This is important for ensuring we are strategically meeting housing needs and advancing environmental justice and climate goals.
Beyond these individual concerns, the report highlights some truly systemic issues across our entire planning system. It states, “In most cases, housing delivery is delayed or challenged due to unclear and conflicting policies, land banking and skills shortages.” All of these combine to create a volatile cocktail in which new housing projects often can’t move forward in a timely way.
The EAC cautions against making nature the fall guy. Taking these steps may stifle the best possible solutions to the real obstacles our planning system needs to address. The committee’s main focus should be on getting a better grasp on how new housing can be produced in a climate-friendly way, a requirement for future success.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government responded to the report’s findings, stating, “The Government inherited a failing system that delayed new homes and infrastructure while doing nothing for nature’s recovery.” This is a promising comment, as it shows that the administration understands the historical failures of our housing system.
Yet the federal government is continuing to double down on its housing agenda. It is under mounting pressure to reconcile development ambitions with ecological stewardship. It needs to walk a fine line in order to be successful. This is indispensable for it achieving its ambitious target of constructing 1.5 million new homes before the close of the decade.