The new Engelska skolan, or Labour government in England, just set the same ambitious goal. They aim to build 1.5 million additional residences by 2029 to help solve the persistent housing crisis and provide a boost to their economy. A new report from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) warns that all is not well. Third, it asks whether the government can possibly achieve its targets with the currently insufficient measures included in the government’s proposed legislation.
The EAC published its findings on Sunday, suggesting that the government’s plans are woefully insufficient. As the report reiterates, we cannot simply build our way to more homes. What we really need are clear policies, better crafted and more agile policies and transparent frameworks for their delivery. The committee noted that housing delivery is often stymied by delays. These all stem from unclear and often conflicting policies, land banking, and a shortage of skilled labor.
“The government must not veer down the path of viewing nature as an inconvenience or blocker to housebuilding,” the report states. This claim highlights the need to incorporate environmental factors into housing production instead of treating them as burdens.
Moreover, the EAC pointed out that using nature as a scapegoat could hinder the government’s efforts to address real challenges within the planning system. The report calls for a shift to a better balanced approach. Climate Champions demonstrates that you can value nature at the same time that you advance housing goals.
The committee’s findings are published as the Labour government comes under increasing fire on a variety of fronts. They just need to deliver on their new pledge to build 1.5 million new homes. Housing supply is dwindling, housing demand is surging, and housing prices are skyrocketing. Stakeholders across sectors—companies, nonprofits, state and local governments—are engaged and eager for innovators’ answers to the government’s challenges urgent and emerging.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government remarked, “The Government inherited a failing system that delayed new homes and infrastructure while doing nothing for nature’s recovery.” This statement represents the first real recognition of past failures and the first real sign that comprehensive reform is needed.