Housing secretary Steve Reed says his job must be “on the road” if the federal government fails to ship its flagship pledge of constructing 1.5 million new houses in England – however main consultants warn the objective is unlikely to be met.
Chatting with BBC Panorama, Reed doubled down on the bold goal, promising he would “completely” ship. The scepticism will make the “celebration all of the sweeter”, he added.
However business figures are unconvinced.
“There may be completely no method they’ll hit that focus on,” mentioned Professor Paul Cheshire, a former economist on the London College of Economics and ex-government adviser on planning coverage.
He criticised the dearth of authorized readability across the gray belt – land that Labour must unlock growth. “If the gray belt had been outlined in a legally watertight method… then it will have been reduce and dried and you possibly can have constructed plenty of homes, however they didn’t do this,” he mentioned.
Neil Jefferson, managing director of the Residence Builders Federation, additionally expressed concern: “The 1.5 million determine is trying more and more distant.”
He instructed Panorama that housebuilding is presently “flatlining” at round 200,000 new houses a 12 months — far in need of the 300,000 annual charge wanted to satisfy the goal.
The pledge to construct 1.5 million houses by the tip of the following Parliament — on account of run till 2029 — was a central promise in Labour’s election manifesto.
“My job must be on the road if I fail to satisfy my goal,” Reed mentioned. “I anticipate to be held to account.”
BPF warns 1.5m new houses goal in danger with out tax reform and regulatory certainty
