A new body to free up housing developments stuck in the planning process will be a key plank of the government’s new homebuilding plans, Deputy PM Angela Rayner said today.
A fifteen-strong team will be recruited from the housing ministry to work with councils to accelerate developments being held up by red tape.
The 'New Homes Accelerator' will also co-ordinate the work of government agencies, local planning departments and housebuilders.
Rayner said there are around 300,000 houses that have outline plans that are stuck with construction waiting to start. Restarting developments where work has "stalled" will also be a priority, which include
These stalled sites include Stretton Hall in Leicestershire, Tendring in Essex, and Biggleswade Garden Community.
Rayner said: "For far too long the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes has been held back by a failure to make sure the development system is working as it should.
"This government has a moral obligation to do everything within our power to build the homes that people desperately need and we won’t hesitate to intervene where we need to.
"Our New Homes Accelerator will quickly identify blockages, fix problems and support local authorities and developers to get shovels in the ground."
David O’Leary, executive director of the Home Builders Federation, added: "The planning process and everything associated with it delivers too little land and has long been a significant constraint on house building.
"The government has shown a welcome desire in the weeks since the election to address the problems."
As part of its pledges when elected, the government promised to build 1.5 million new homes over five years.
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