23 May 2024
At a glance: Angela Rayner’s UKREiiF speech
Shadow housing secretary and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has shared further details on her party’s plans for housing, should they get in at the general election on 4 July.
Speaking at the UKREiiF (UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) in Leeds, and expanding on the plans outlined by Sir Kier Starmer at last year’s Labour conference, Rayner focussed on the party’s plans to deliver a “new generation” of new towns and the need to build on brownfield and ‘grey belt’ land.
Here are the key points from Rayner’s address.
New towns
As secretary of state, Rayner said she would help to deliver a "new generation” of new towns “fit for the future” and “inspired by garden suburbs like Hale in Manchester, Roundhay in Leeds, and the Garden City project”.
She outlined the introduction of a ‘New Towns Code’, setting out criteria that developers must follow.
The code would include a “gold standard aim” for developers to deliver 40 per cent social and affordable housing.
The ‘grey belt’
Labour has been pushing the ‘grey belt’ – which it defines as land that has fallen into neglect and which does not qualify as brownfield due to its proximity to the surrounding green belt – as a key part of its plans to build more homes.
Rayner expanded on this policy in her speech, saying her party will give mayors “the tools they need” to unlock “ugly, disused” grey belt land, alongside setting “tough new conditions for releasing that land”.
“Our ‘golden rules’ will ensure any grey belt development delivers affordable homes, new public services, and improved green spaces,” she said.
Labour has spoken of its intention to build on "ugly, disused" grey belt land. (Cr: Ceri Breeze/Shutterstock)
Affordable housing
While affordable housing ties into many of Labour’s housing plans, Rayner specifically addressed the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Rayner said her party would make the programme “more flexible so that every penny gets out the door” – though she didn’t expand on the detail.
She also said Labour would unlock government grants to help the delivery of more affordable homes.
Local housing targets
The Conservatives have long committed to delivering 300,000 new homes every year. Yet, the party has not once met this target and has sought of late to talk down its commitment to housebuilding targets. (It should be noted that no UK government has delivered more than 250,000 homes in a year so far this century.)
Rayner said an “active central government” is required to fully deliver on the UK’s housing ambitions, adding that Labour would re-introduce local housing targets “and ensure they are met”.
Placemaking
Rayner expanded on Labour’s plans for placemaking and the need to deliver “beautiful” homes and communities.
She spoke of “clean, green homes of the future” and that Labour would build “from the bottom up”.
Should Labour get into power, she said an “expert” independent taskforce would be set up within the first 12 months to help decide on potential development sites and projects.
Doing so, she said, would help to deliver “the towns of the future within months, not decades”.
CIH’s response
Responding to Angela Rayner's speech earlier this week, Rachael Williamson, head of policy and external affairs at CIH, said: “Though the main headlines have focused on the commitment to new towns, CIH was encouraged to see a focus on quality and affordable housing delivery in today’s speech.
“Labour has made clear its commitment to delivering new homes at scale, recognising the housing crisis before us, so it’s good to see it setting out some of the practical action needed to address it.
“As we outlined in our housing strategy, Homes at the Heart, the next government must commit to an ambitious plan for housing that delivers for all.
“A reintroduction of local housing targets, programme of new towns with supporting infrastructure, greater focus on social housing and a more flexible Affordable Homes Programme will play a key role.”
Image: Rupert Rivett/Shutterstock
At CIH, we have been urging all political parties to commit to a long-term plan for housing that recognises it as the foundation for creating healthy and sustainable communities. This is now even more important as we race toward the 4 July general election.
We can do this with a focus on more homes and better homes. Our 10 point plan, published at the end of September last year, unpacks this further, with more detail set out in our full Strategy for housing.
Liam Turner is the CIH's digital editor.
