Steve Reed, the newly appointed Housing Secretary, has vowed to launch one of the most ambitious housebuilding drives in UK history, pledging to pull every lever to meet Labour’s target of building 1.5 million homes during this Parliament.
In his first meeting with civil servants since taking over from Angela Rayner, Reed declared his mantra would be build, baby, build, signalling a proactive approach to tackling the country’s worsening housing crisis.
“We are moving into the next stage of unleashing one of the biggest eras of building in our country’s history,” he told officials.
Despite the bold pledge, the construction sector has raised concerns about whether the target is realistic, especially amid labour shortages and planning bottlenecks.
According to the Office for National Statistics, only 38,780 new homes were completed in the first quarter of this year, roughly half the number that would need to be delivered every three months to stay on track.
Amid concerns about slow economic growth, Mr Reed is expected to make housebuilding a key lever for stimulating the economy.
This week, he will host a roundtable with leading developers and housebuilders to discuss the next phase of planning reform, with a focus on unlocking stalled projects.
“I will leave no stone unturned to build the homes Britain desperately needs,” he is expected to tell industry leaders.
The Housing Secretary has identified that up to 1.4 million homes have already received planning permission but remain unbuilt, a backlog he sees as critical to meeting the government’s housing ambitions.
A source at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said, “The Labour Government inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory. A shortage of homes has driven house prices to unaffordable levels, preventing families from achieving their dream of home ownership.
“The new Housing Secretary will smash through every barrier to build 1.5 million homes. Let’s get Britain building.”
Reed appointment from Environment Secretary
Reed, formerly the Environment Secretary, is reported to have earned the trust of key figures in government including Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney due to his track record of pushing through bold reforms.
His appointment signals Labour’s determination to make housing a central part of its growth and social agenda.
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