Following my question on housing at last weeks’ Prime Ministers’ Questions, I was delighted to hear the Prime Minister’s commitment to building 1 million new homes across this Parliament. This commitment mirrors our manifesto pledge to get our planning system moving. Rather than concreting over the countryside, the government will focus on building in productive inner-city areas where demand is highest, including through its new urban quarter in Cambridge. The Government has also announced a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, which will help to ensure that planning experts are deployed onto our largest developments.
But this isn’t just about new buildings; it’s about what we do with old ones. It will soon be easier than ever to convert shops, takeaways, and betting shops into homes. Red tape is set to be slashed on the use of outbuildings, allowing barns and warehouses to be converted into flats. Homeowners will have greater freedom to extend, convert, and renovate their homes as they see fit.
Since 2010, this Government has already delivered 2.2 million new homes, but there is still more work to be done. The Prime Minister’s ambitious new target, coupled with the steps that he is taking to build more high-quality homes in the communities that need them, will mean more young families on the housing ladder, and more freedom for those who already own property. I’m proud to support these proposals and believe strongly that they will improve our communities.
