Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, center, visits a construction site in Cambridgeshire, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Chris Radburn/Pool Photo via AP)[/caption]
SIR Keir Starmer today stared down NIMBYs as he announced huge new housebuilding targets for townhalls across the country.
The mandatory thresholds will force some councils to accelerate development by more than 1000% in a bid to bring the total number of new homes in England to 370,000 a year.
Sir Keir Starmer today announced new local housing targets to ensure 370,000 new homes are built every year[/caption]
Under new planning rules, in London construction must increase by 147 per cent to achieve 80,693 new homes.
In the South East development will soar by 71 per cent to reach 69,060.
And in the East of England a rise of 56 per cent will build 44,858 new homes.
The London borough of Kensington, Redcar and Burnley have all been told to improve rates by more than 500 per cent.
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On a visit to a construction site in Cambridgeshire today, Sir Keir declared that the dream of home ownership must be a “top priority”, above nature and the environment.
The PM said: “For years, we have had not enough houses being built.
“That means that individuals and families don’t have the security that they want.
“We are determined to break through that, to do what’s necessary.
“Of course we want to get the balance right with nature and the environment, but if it comes to a human being wanting to have a house for them and their family, that has to be the top priority.”
Responding to the targets, Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake accused Labour of “declaring war on the countryside”.
He said: “What we do not welcome is the war on rural England he is pursuing.
“Following on the family farm tax, the withdrawal of rural services delivery grant, now we see the massive shift (to) mass-housebuilding in rural areas and on green belts.”
Mr Hollinrake also claimed that the “majority” of new homes will be built by immigrants.
He said: “Due to the loosening of restrictions on the visa requirements such as the salary threshold and the scrapping of the Rwanda deterrent, the majority of the homes they deliver will be required for people coming into this country rather than for British citizens.”
The PM will give town halls just three months to form a blueprint to meet the new targets.
Planners have been told to prioritise brownfield sites first for development, followed by ugly green land designated as “grey field”.
Local authorities that don’t have enough space will then be ordered to build on an area of greenbelt land larger than Surrey.
All new-builds will be required to follow “golden rules”, ensuring they come alongside necessary infrastructure, including nurseries, GP surgeries and transport.
A £100million cash injection will help pay to improve council planning departments, as well as funding 300 new planning officers, to speed up the construction process.
And Nimby town hall chiefs who frequently block new homes will see proposals bypass their desks and be sent to Whitehall for approval.
