Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons, Rayner (pictured), who is also the housing secretary, laid out Labour’s housing policy to deliver one-and-a-half million homes over the next five years.

The deputy PM said that under the Conservative government’s regime of advising councils on housing targets, rather than making them mandatory, the number of new homes to be built this year was set to drop below 200,000. She branded the legacy “unforgivable” and added that Labour needed to deliver change to “turbocharge growth and build more homes”.

 

Powers of intervention

Under Labour’s new plans, in addition to mandatory targets, all councils must have an up-to-date local housing plan in place. Currently, Rayner added, only a third of local authorities had a plan in place that was fewer than five years old.

The government says it is prepared to take tough decisions and step in where needed to drive councils’ progress, ensuring local areas get a say on how, but not if, homes are built.

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Rayner said she will not hesitate to use her powers of intervention should this be necessary – including taking over an authority’s plan-making directly.

 

Brownfield and grey belt land

The first port of call for development will be brownfield land. Labour wants a focus on building on brownfield development and the promotion of housebuilding at greater densities in towns and cities.

To free up more land for new-build sites, a review of the green belt will be carried out to identify grey belt land, which includes land on the edge of existing settlements or roads, as well as old petrol stations and car parks.

Land that is safeguarded for environmental reasons will continue to be protected.

Land released in the green belt will be subject to the government’s “golden rules”. The rules make clear that development should deliver 50% affordable homes, increase access to green spaces and put the necessary infrastructure in place, such as schools and GP surgeries.

Councils must consider the proximity of new homes to existing transport infrastructure.

In addition to these reforms, the government is also taking steps to deliver affordable and social housing. This includes changes to Right to Buy, giving councils flexibility to use their receipts to build and buy more social homes.

The government has started its review of the increased discounts introduced in 2012, with changes to be implemented in autumn.

 

Sustainable home delivery

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, said: “Propertymark is keen to work closely with the new government to help ensure a balanced mix of housing is delivered across the next parliamentary term and beyond. Ensuring sustainable homes are delivered in key areas is paramount for the economy and it’s encouraging to hear Angela Rayner commit to an ‘infrastructure first’ approach, and one that focuses on making full use of available brownfield and grey belt land where possible first.

“Propertymark has long called for an enhanced housing strategy to be developed and one that can deliver for generations to come, so it’s positive to hear this will become an integrated ambition moving forwards. It is essential housing supply has seamless continuity and keeps pace with demand, so the return of mandatory housing targets and a commitment to building a mixture of housing becomes a reality.

“Ultimately, future direction to deliver the 1.5m new homes promised must be driven by robust insight and delivered with precision… via close stakeholder engagement.”