The government’s flagship plan to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029 is facing fierce resistance from local councils, who have branded it “unrealistic” and “impossible to achieve.”
Responses obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws reveal widespread concerns from councils of all political stripes. The clash sets local authorities on a potential collision course with Labour, which has made housebuilding a key plank of its economic growth agenda.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized the importance of ambitious housing targets, but local councils argue the methodology is flawed, citing strains on infrastructure, planning capacity, and land availability.
Labour-run Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire called the targets “impossible,” while South Tyneside labeled them “wholly unrealistic.” Rural areas like West Lancashire, where annual housing targets would jump from 166 to 605, expressed fears of unmanageable growth. Deputy council leader Gareth Dowling said the plan “doesn’t match local needs” and risks swallowing arable farmland.
Even urban areas raised alarms. Salford Mayor Paul Dennett criticized the approach, urging the government to focus on local housing needs like homelessness and waiting lists instead of enforcing rigid, centralized quotas.
The ambitious targets depend on councils granting planning permission, but building is largely left to private developers. Critics say this overlooks issues like a strained construction industry and insufficient planning resources.
Labour has defended its strategy, claiming the previous Conservative government’s outdated housing targets failed to address the housing crisis or promote growth. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner insists the government will be “ambitious” and has hinted at overruling council objections to hit the 1.5 million target.
While many councils oppose the targets, a few, such as Oxford City Council, back the plan. Oxford is set to build an additional 24,000 homes and hopes neighboring districts will help meet the demand. “The plan is ambitious, but it has to be achievable,” said Oxford’s planning chief Louise Upton.
The government says it will respond to the consultation and revise its plans by year-end. In July, Rayner pledged to push annual housebuilding rates from 300,000 to over 370,000—well above the 1.5 million target.
A Ministry of Housing spokesperson defended the proposals, calling this “the worst housing crisis in living memory” and arguing that the targets are vital to solving it. However, councils and campaigners are demanding greater flexibility and local input to ensure the ambitious goals don’t fall flat.
The battle over housing policy highlights a growing tension between national ambition and local realities, with the stakes high for both residents and the government’s credibility.
