The New Homes Accelerator has helped remove blockages and speed up the building of almost 100,000 homes across England within its first year of operation, the government has announced.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said that since the launch of the scheme in August 2024, its team has unblocked plans on large developments previously stuck in the planning system, or which were progressing too slowly.
The New Homes Accelerator has addressed challenges that were holding back development on scores of large, consented sites across the country, the government announcement stated, “helping more people get on the housing ladder, tackling the housing crisis while creating local jobs and boosting economic growth.”
It says the success is due to measures such as providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles, which has helped hasten the delivery of 36,000 new homes across England that “were not building out as fast as they should have”. In addition, close engagement with ‘arms-length bodies’ and other government departments has driven forward planning proposals for another 63,000 homes.
The MHCLG highlighted six notable sites that together will now be able to deliver over 12,000 homes, with at least 25% affordable housing across all sites: Orchard Grove in Somerset; Wisley Airfield in Guildford; North Leigh Park in Wigan; Hampden Fields in Aylesbury; and two in London.
Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said: “We’ve rolled up our sleeves and are breaking down the barriers which stop us from building the houses to buy and rent that families and young people need, helping to speed up the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes already.
“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 said: “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.”
