The New Homes Accelerator, launched last year to remove barriers to homebuilding, has enabled the building of almost 100,000 new homes across England, the government has announced.
The team behind the specialist programme have helped speed up the delivery of 36,000 new homes by intervening through targeted support including providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles. Planning proposals for a further 63,000 homes have been pushed through by collaborating with arms-length bodies and other government departments to enable progress.
Sites benefitting from the programme include 4,500 new homes at Worcestershire Parkway, where the New Homes Accelerator worked with councils and housebuilders to fast-track delivery, and Wisley Airfield site in Guildford. Work on the three-neighbourhood, 1,730 home Taylor Wimpey development – which includes shops, sports facilities, a school and public park – was supported by securing quick responses from statutory consultees and providing strategic support to the local planning authority.
Six new sites have now been earmarked by the team, who will expedite the delivery of 12,000 homes with targeted support. The sites in Somerset, Guildford, Wigan, Aylesbury and two in London will include at least 25% affordable housing.
The intervention supports the government’s reforms aimed at tackling the country’s housing crisis and delivering 1.5 million new homes, alongside changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner commented:
“We are continuing to take decisive action through our New Homes Accelerator to speed up the delivery of homes, meet our stretching 1.5 million homes target through the Plan for Change, and get spades in the ground to turn the tide on the housing crisis.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added:
“I’m pleased the government is working with London boroughs to unblock housebuilding as part of its plan to deliver the good growth our country needs. I’m determined to use all the powers at my disposal to build the homes Londoners need and get Britain building again.
“I look forward to working with ministers on the action and investment needed to accelerate the delivery of new homes as we continue building a better, fairer London for everyone.”
