More than 100 new towns could be built under the government’s plans for the “largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era”.
“Sir Keir Starmer will visit a development in Buckinghamshire today as he unveils the latest step in his plans to build 1.5 million homes.
The prime minister has once again attacked NIMBYs (“Not in my backyard” – opponents to building in their area), and backed “working people” who can’t afford homes.
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As part of today’s announcement, a first draft of the blueprint for the 100 new towns will be published.
This will include suggestions on the amount of green spaces, number of GP surgeries, schools, public transport and affordable housing in these new towns.
A final framework will be published in the summer.
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Writing in The Metro, Sir Keir said he knew there would be “huge opposition” to his latest plans, but that “for too long the NIMBYs and the naysayers have been able to clog up our systems so things can’t get built”.
The government says more than 100 sites in England have “come forward” to be considered to be a new town.
Most of these are in London, the south or the east.
Sir Keir said: “We’re urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need so more families can get on the housing ladder. We’re sweeping aside the blockers to get houses built, no longer accepting no as the default answer, and paving the way for the next generation of new towns.
“As part of the largest housebuilding programme since the post-war era, our ambitious Plan for Change will transform the lives of working people, once again connecting the basic principle that if you work hard, you should get on.”
The government claimed it has “unblocked” 20,000 houses since entering government last July.
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In today’s announcement, the government says it plans to unblock another 700,000 homes across 350 sites.
This will include speeding up the process for building “tall buildings” – those of 18 metres or more.
It is understood that this reduction in time will not include relaxing safety regulations, but rather extra resources to make the current steps faster.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “I will not run away from the tough choices to fix the housing crisis we inherited that has left thousands of families on housing waiting lists, allowed homelessness to spiral out of control, and stopped an entire generation from picking up the keys to their first home.”
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The government also reiterated its plans to overrule local concerns about the environment – exemplified by the bat tunnel near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
Sir Keir wrote in The Metro: “We’re changing the bonkers system that stops us building train lines and homes to protect bats and newts.”
