Rayner Spearheads Bold New Housing Initiative Amidst Party Concerns, Launches Expert-Led Task Force for New Towns

Angela Rayner downplays potential resistance from Labour MPs regarding housing initiative as she unveils a new towns task force.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that her party's representatives were voted into office on a platform committed to increasing housing construction, coinciding with her selection of two specialists to spearhead the development of new communities with a minimum of 10,000 homes each.

Political journalist @Journoamrogers

Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 12

Angela Rayner has minimized concerns regarding opposition from her party members to the government's aggressive housebuilding initiative as she introduced a task force aimed at creating new towns throughout the UK.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who just revealed plans to overhaul the planning system to facilitate the construction of 1.5 million new homes within five years, attempted to quell speculations that her party's newly elected MPs might resist the compulsory targets should they face local disapproval.

Ms. Rayner, who holds the position of housing secretary, informed Members of Parliament yesterday that the government is reinstating compulsory housing quotas for local councils, which had been previously abolished by the Conservatives.

She announced that the yearly goal for home construction would rise from 300,000 to slightly more than 370,000.

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When questioned by journalists on Tuesday if she was preparing for a confrontation with Labour MPs and councils regarding the new initiatives, the Deputy Prime Minister responded, "Indeed, Labour councils and Labour MPs are aware of our housing crisis and have strongly backed our campaign promise of 1.5 million homes, fully understanding this requires significant effort on our part."

"We require every region to acknowledge the crisis at hand and take action. We will assist them in implementing these changes to ensure we secure the necessary housing."

When questioned further about whether Labour MPs could reject new housing developments lacking constituent support, Ms. Rayner suggested that "implementing compulsory local plans would enhance community involvement at the local level."

She expressed that the major issue she encounters when engaging with communities is that the houses are frequently not intended for them.

"These are high-end homes; affordability is not an option for them."

She spoke just as the administration initiated a specialized team to lead the Labour Party’s initiative for developing a new series of towns nationwide.

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The new administration has announced plans for towns consisting of at least 10,000 homes each, heralding this initiative as the most significant residential construction effort since the post-war era.

Sir Michael Lyons, known for his prominent positions at the English Cities Fund, a regeneration development firm, will lead the task force. Assisting him as vice chair will be housing economist Dame Kate Barker.

Under the program, the proposed new communities will include standalone developments as well as expansions and revitalization projects tied to current urban areas.

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Ms. Rayner emphasized that the task force will collaborate with community members to determine the optimal locations for these new towns, aiming to provide additional housing, employment opportunities, and green areas.

She stated that the communities would operate under a "new towns code," requiring developers to guarantee that the towns are equipped with adequate infrastructure and public services, and are designed to be sustainable, attractive, and well-planned.

The formation of the task force was announced after Ms. Rayner disclosed a comprehensive reform of the planning system aimed at tackling the housing crisis in the UK, which experienced the sharpest annual increase in average private rents in February since records of this nature started in 2015.

Ms. Rayner emphasized the urgent need to address significant issues such as high rates of homelessness, over a million households waiting for social housing, and the cost of homes in England averaging over eight times the typical income.

In a significant overhaul of planning procedures, the government is revising the formula that determines housing needs in various localities to "more accurately address the pressing demand for homes in those areas."

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The regulations will mandate that half of all new homes must be affordably priced, particularly emphasizing social rental options.

Around £450 million from the municipal housing budget will be allocated to local councils for the construction of 2,000 new residences, a project that the Deputy Prime Minister hailed as "revolutionary" and "immediate."

Over thirty residential construction companies have endorsed a declaration advocating for the reinstatement of compulsory housing quotas and the development of "grey belt" zones, which refer to less visually appealing sections of the green belt such as gas stations and parking lots.

The Conservative Party has criticized Labour for approving the construction of "1.5 million unsightly houses" in England under the latest planning changes.

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