The newly appointed Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, has issued a rallying “call to arms” to developers and housebuilders across England, urging them to join the government’s mission to build 1.5 million homes during this Parliament.
Joined by Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, Reed reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working in close partnership with industry leaders to tackle the remaining barriers to large-scale housebuilding. These include complex planning processes, which have long hindered development across the country.
The announcement follows the launch of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at getting more spades in the ground and helping hundreds of thousands of working families achieve the dream of homeownership.
Ahead of a wave of new measures expected in the coming weeks – including the creation of new towns and the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill – Reed met with key developers before visiting a housing site in Bedfordshire to explore ways to accelerate construction nationwide.
The government has reinstated mandatory housing targets, reversing previous measures that curbed supply. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), this could drive UK housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years.
Newly appointed Housing Secretary Reed said:
“I want us to build, baby, build, so we can put the key to a decent home into the hands of every single family that needs it.
“We are doubling down on our plans to unleash one of the biggest eras of building in our country’s history and we are backing the builders all the way.
“Through major planning reform and investment, we will break down the barriers to development and build the 1.5 million homes this country needs as part of our Plan for Change.”
The landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill is designed to streamline development while protecting the environment and preserving local voices in planning decisions.
Since taking office, the government has:
- Unblocked nearly 100,000 homes via the New Homes Accelerator
- Invested millions into councils to unlock disused brownfield land
- Committed £39 billion to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme
This renewed push signals a bold new chapter in Britain’s housing strategy, with the government determined to deliver homes at pace and scale.
Image credit: iStock
