Labour's Ambitious Plan to Build New Towns Within First Year
Labour aims to announce new town sites within a year, with homes built by the end of their first term. Angela Rayner outlines the plan in Leeds, linking it to postwar new towns and promising support for developers who create affordable housing. A taskforce will select sites, and a proposed fairness tax could fund social housing.
A Labour government aims to announce the sites for new towns within a year of taking office, with homes built by the end of the first term, Angela Rayner will say.
The plan, detailed in Keir Starmer’s October conference speech, will support developers creating affordable housing.
Speaking in Leeds, Rayner, deputy leader and shadow housing secretary, linked the initiative to postwar new towns.
Labour pledges 1.5 million new homes in a first term.
An independent taskforce will select sites, considering local views, housing demand, jobs, and infrastructure.
The taskforce will recommend sites in six months, with construction during the first term.
The scale is smaller than the postwar effort, aiming for a few new towns.
Developers meeting obligations will be supported; those failing responsibilities will be held accountable.
Planning applications are decreasing in England; Labour cites a 9% fall in late 2023.
The Social Market Foundation suggests funding social housing with a fairness tax on empty properties, overseas purchases, and quick sales, potentially raising four billion pounds annually, enough to triple current social home building rates.
The plan, detailed in Keir Starmer’s October conference speech, will support developers creating affordable housing.
Speaking in Leeds, Rayner, deputy leader and shadow housing secretary, linked the initiative to postwar new towns.
Labour pledges 1.5 million new homes in a first term.
An independent taskforce will select sites, considering local views, housing demand, jobs, and infrastructure.
The taskforce will recommend sites in six months, with construction during the first term.
The scale is smaller than the postwar effort, aiming for a few new towns.
Developers meeting obligations will be supported; those failing responsibilities will be held accountable.
Planning applications are decreasing in England; Labour cites a 9% fall in late 2023.
The Social Market Foundation suggests funding social housing with a fairness tax on empty properties, overseas purchases, and quick sales, potentially raising four billion pounds annually, enough to triple current social home building rates.
