The results of the first year of the accelerator’s operation have been revealed, showing that a number of homes previously stuck in the planning system have been moved along
Another 12,000 homes are expected to be helped along by the New Homes Accelerator as they widen their scope to the North West, London, Somerset, and the South East.
Of the 100,000 homes sped up, many were stuck in the system, while others were simply moving slowly.
The work done so far:
Through targeted support, the accelerator has helped in the delivery of 36,000 homes, thanks to increasing planning capacity in an area or removing regulatory hurdles.
Planning proposals for 63,000 homes have also been sped up via engagement with arms-length bodies and governmental departments, contributing further to the 1.5m new homes target.
The New Homes Accelerator’s sights will now be set on Comeytrowe in Somerset, Wisley Airfield in Guildford, North Leigh Park in Wigan, Hampden Fields in Aylesbury, And Billet Road and High Road West in London, expected to aid a combined 12,000 new homes.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, said: “We’ve rolled up our sleeves and are breaking down the barriers which stop us from building the houses to buy and rent that families and young people need, helping to speed up the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes already.
“We are continuing to take decisive action through our New Homes Accelerator to speed up the delivery of homes, meet our stretching 1.5 million homes target through the Plan for Change, and get spades in the ground to turn the tide on the housing crisis.”
The New Homes Accelerator is part of a ‘pragmatic approach’
The team was originally put together in August last year, comprising 15 members from the Ministry of Housing and Homes England. It was deemed necessary due to government analysis showing that, across 200 large sites in England, there are around 300,000 new homes being held up by various issues.
At the time, David O’Leary, executive director of the Home Builders Federation, said: “The planning process and everything associated with it delivers too little land and has long been a significant constraint on house building. Government has shown a welcome desire in the weeks since the election to address the problems.
“A lack of planning department capacity and misaligned incentives for other public bodies and statutory consultees has created a process with huge uncertainty. This creates an abundance of risk resulting in longer development timescales and severe challenges in particular for small and medium-sized house builders.
“Adopting a pragmatic approach to planning will increase the pace at which new homes are built and help to turn around ailing housing supply. Unlocking homes and delivering new communities will boost growth and support job creation while providing young people with access to new, more affordable housing. The housing market is complex and we look forward to working with government to ensure that all aspects of the housing market are functioning more effectively.”
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