Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook emphasized that the government is focusing its housing strategy on local councils, which have been assigned specific targets to build homes. The government's goal is to construct 370,000 new homes annually, strategically targeting areas where housing is least affordable and where local authorities can give developers permissions more easily.
The reality is stark: 1.3 million households are currently on social housing waiting lists. This includes a distressing number of families, with 160,000 children living in temporary accommodation. The situation underscores a pressing need for increased housing availability, which the government aims to address through its revised planning policies.
In a significant shift, the government announced that growth would be concentrated in city regions facing affordability challenges, which would see a substantial increase in housing targets. Cities like St Albans and Oxford are being assigned dramatically higher quotas, indicating a commitment to address shortages in high-demand urban areas.
Interestingly, while the overall target for London has decreased compared to previous plans, there are pockets within the city, such as Kensington and Chelsea, that will experience significant increases in their housing targets. This reflects a tailored approach to address specific local market needs.
Collection
[
|
...
]