Interactive map shows how many homes will be built near YOUR house in Keir’s bid to get more Brits on property ladder
SIR Keir Starmer today stared down NIMBYs as he announced huge new housebuilding targets for townhalls across the country.
The mandatory thresholds will force some councils to accelerate development by more than 1,000 per cent in a bid to bring the total number of new homes in England to 370,000 a year.
Under new planning rules, in London construction must increase by 147 per cent to achieve 80,693 new homes.
In the South East, development will soar by 71 per cent to reach 69,060.
And in the East of England a rise of 56 per cent will build 44,858 new homes.
The London borough of Kensington, Redcar and Burnley have all been told to improve rates by more than 500 per cent.
On a visit to a construction site in Cambridgeshire today, Sir Keir declared that the dream of home ownership must be a “top priority”, above nature and the environment.
The PM said: “For years, we have had not enough houses being built.
“That means that individuals and families don’t have the security that they want.
“We are determined to break through that, to do what’s necessary.
“Of course we want to get the balance right with nature and the environment, but if it comes to a human being wanting to have a house for them and their family, that has to be the top priority.”
Responding to the targets, Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake accused Labour of “declaring war on the countryside”.
He said: “What we do not welcome is the war on rural England he is pursuing.
“Following on the family farm tax, the withdrawal of rural services delivery grant, now we see the massive shift (to) mass-housebuilding in rural areas and on green belts.”
Mr Hollinrake also claimed that the “majority” of new homes will be built by immigrants.
He said: “Due to the loosening of restrictions on the visa requirements such as the salary threshold and the scrapping of the Rwanda deterrent, the majority of the homes they deliver will be required for people coming into this country rather than for British citizens.”
The PM will give town halls just three months to form a blueprint to meet the new targets.
Planners have been told to prioritise brownfield sites first for development, followed by ugly green land designated as “grey field”.
Local authorities that don’t have enough space will then be ordered to build on an area of greenbelt land larger than Surrey.
All new-builds will be required to follow “golden rules”, ensuring they come alongside necessary infrastructure, including nurseries, GP surgeries and transport.
A £100million cash injection will help pay to improve council planning departments, as well as funding 300 new planning officers, to speed up the construction process.
And Nimby town hall chiefs who frequently block new homes will see proposals bypass their desks and be sent to Whitehall for approval.
The 10 areas with the highest housebuilding target increases
- Redcar and Cleveland North East 1142%
- Burnley North West 566%
- Kensington and Chelsea 502%
- Hyndburn North West 502%
- Blackpool North West 297%
- Blackburn with Darwen North West 277%
- Tamworth West Midlands 261%
- Cheshire West and Chester North West 259%
- Redditch West Midlands 239%
- West Lancashire North West 238%