Plans to build more homes in cities to be unveiled amid criticism from developers
Developers have accused the government of not doing enough to tackle falling levels of house building, as Michael Gove prepares to unveil plans that he says will boost construction – without spoiling the countryside.
In a speech expected on Monday, the levelling up and housing secretary will set out measures aimed at “unblocking the planning system” and increasing development in urban areas.
The prime minister has also announced that a manifesto promise to build one million new homes over this parliament will be met.
Government sources say a separate commitment to build 300,000 new homes per year by the mid-2020s still stands, despite a former Tory housing minister saying last May it would be missed “by a country mile”.
Mandatory housebuilding targets for local authorities were dropped by ministers last year after a rebellion from Conservative MPs concerned about the impact of developments.
Michael Gove
Rishi Sunak said the solution to the UK’s housing shortage was not “concreting over the countryside”.
He added: “Our plan is to build the right homes where there is the most need and where there is local support, in the heart of Britain’s great cities… by regenerating disused brownfield land, streamlining planning process and helping homeowners to renovate and extend their houses outwards and upwards.”
But the Home Builders Federation said the plans “do little to address the major reasons why housing supply is falling” and questioned if there was enough brownfield land available to meet demand.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the group, said: “The increasingly anti-development policy environment is driving down housing supply, taking access to decent housing out of the reach in particular of young people, costing jobs and reducing economic activity.
“Much more decisive action is needed if government is serious about boosting housing delivery.”
In a speech in central London tomorrow morning, Mr Gove is expected to lay out several proposals, including:
- The creation of government-sponsored development corporations – modelled on a body set up by the Thatcher government in East London – with powers to buy up land using compulsory purchase orders and sell plots to developers.
- A new ‘super-squad’ of planners and other experts to help unblock major developments. The team would initially be deployed to Cambridge to work on expansion plans.
- The launch of a ‘Planning Skills Delivery Fund’ to clear backlogs and improve skills in the sector.
- Higher fees levied on developers to help improve planning services.
- New flexibilities to turn shops, takeaways and betting shops into homes and a cut in the administration required to convert barns and repurpose farm buildings.
- A review of ‘permitted development rights’ to make it easier for the public to extend homes, convert lofts and renovate buildings.
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The organisation representing local authorities criticised the government’s plans for increased flexibility in planning laws though – saying property conversions should be handled through formal planning applications.
“Further expanding permitted development rights risks creating poor quality residential environments that negatively impact people’s health and wellbeing, as well as a lack of affordable housing or suitable infrastructure,” said chair of the Local Government Association, councillor Shaun Davies.
A report by the cross-party Levelling Up Committee earlier this month concluded the government was on track to deliver one million new homes over the course of this parliament, but said the dropping of mandatory targets would make it difficult to meet the annual aim of 300,000 additional properties.
Government figures show 687,000 new homes have been delivered since early 2019, reaching a high of 242,700 in the 12 months to April 2020.
But in May last year, former housing minister Robert Jenrick – who now serves in the Home Office – predicted that housebuilding would fall in the immediate future and that the 300,000 target would be missed “by a country mile”.
Does the government’s rhetoric on homebuilding match up to reality?
Ballooning property prices have caused a big rise in the age of first-time buyers, with high deposit requirements stopping many getting on the housing ladder at all.
A lack of supply has also forced up rents, while rising mortgage rates are making the situation even more unaffordable.
Putting a figure on how much new housing is needed is tricky but most estimates range between 300,000 to 340,000 per year.
Ministers have previously said around this point, the increase in supply would start to have an impact on bringing down prices – although some query this logic.
Getting to this figure was dealt a blow when the government announced last year it would no longer be enforcing development targets.
This change was brought about by rebel Tory MPs and followed the loss of the Chesham and Amersham by-election to a Lib Dem campaign that centred on local anxieties over planning reform.
Housebuilders say the watering down of the targets has already led to 58 local authorities withdrawing or pausing their local housing plans.
Tomorrow’s push is designed to reassure the public on the issue of homebuilding without scaring traditional Tory voters (and their MPs) who are worried about buildings popping up in their leafy backyards.
While the government press release outlining the plans is adorned with positive quotes from developers like Persimmon and Keir, and bodies like RIBA and the Royal Town Planning Institute, you don’t have to look far to find deep scepticism as to whether the government’s rhetoric matches up to reality.
As well as the watering down of housing targets, criticism centres on the convoluted planning process, environmental regulations and whether there are enough brownfield urban sites to meet demand.
Much like tackling climate change, building new homes is something most people agree needs to happen – and yet, workable and scalable solutions everyone can agree with always seem thin on the ground.
Industry sources have also cast doubt on whether the government will hit its one million pledge, amid rising costs in the sector.
Housebuilders say the dropping of mandatory targets combined with the enforcement of pollution rules by Natural England has led to approved planning permissions falling to record lows.
The environmental watchdog has been accused by developers of blocking up to 145,000 homes because of so-called “nutrient neutrality rules” centred on the risk to waterways.
A new housing estate under construction in Ashford, Kent
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Gove said ministers needed to work with Natural England to make sure the balance was right between building new homes and protecting the environment.
Ahead of his speech, Mr Gove said: “At the heart of this is making sure that we build beautiful and empower communities to have a say in the development in their area.”
But Labour’s shadow housing secretary Lisa Nandy said the Conservatives had failed to deliver enough new homes while in government.
She said: “It takes some serious brass neck for the Tories to make yet more promises when the housing crisis has gone from bad to worse on their watch, and when housebuilding is on course to hit its lowest rate since the Second World War because Rishi Sunak rolled over to his own MPs.”
England star Jess Carter says she has been the victim of racist abuse online during the UEFA Women’s Euros in Switzerland.
The Lionesses defender, who has 49 England caps, said she will be “taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to deal with”.
In an Instagram post, the 27-year-old player said: “From the start of the tournament, I have experienced a lot of racial abuse. Whilst I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result, I don’t agree or think it’s ok to target someone’s appearance or race.”
Jess Carter. Pic: PA
Carter said she was stepping back from social media to “protect myself in a bid to keep my focus on helping the team anyway I can”.
She added: “Hopefully speaking out will make the people writing this abuse think twice so that others won’t have to deal with it.”
Carter also said that England have made some “historic changes with the Lionesses squad” that she was “so proud” of, and she hopes that by speaking out about racial abuse “it will make another positive change for all”.
‘Abhorrent abuse’
The Football Association leadership has condemned the “abhorrent abuse” against Carter and has contacted UK police about it.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said in a statement: “Our priority is Jess and giving her all the support she needs. We strongly condemn those responsible for this disgusting racism.
“As soon as we were made aware of the racist abuse Jess received, we immediately contacted UK police. They are in touch with the relevant social media platform, and we are working with police to ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice.”
Carter during a training session in Switzerland. Pic: PA
The Lionesses said in a statement: “We stand with Jess and all Lionesses players past and present who have suffered racism.
“No one should have to endure such vile abuse, be that in football or any walk of life.”
They added: “Those behind this online poison must be held accountable.”
Anger and sadness
England teammate Lucy Bronze said there was “anger” and “sadness” among the squad following the abuse.
Bronze said: “I think we all know that any player of colour that’s played for England has probably gone through racist abuse. That’s a sad fact.”
She told Sky News’ sports correspondent Rob Harris that social media platforms need to be held more accountable.
Bronze added: “People need to be held accountable for their actions, whether it’s in-person or online. The abuse is not okay. Racism is not okay.”
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The prime minister said on X that there was “no place for racism in football or anywhere in society”.
Sir Keir Starmer added: “I stand with Jess, the Lionesses, and any players who have suffered racism, on and off the pitch.”
Carter has started all four of England’s games at the tournament.
The defending champions face Italy on Tuesday night in Geneva in the Euros semi-finals. If they win and reach the final, they will play either Germany or Spain, who face each other on Wednesday.
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The Lionesses also said that until now, they have chosen to take the knee before matches.
“It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism,” they said.
England won’t be taking the knee before semi-final
The Lionesses said they have agreed as a squad to remain standing before kick-off in the match against Italy.
“We hope the game can come together to see what more can be done.”
Kneeling, a symbolic anti-racism gesture, came to prominence in 2016 when NFL player Colin Kaepernick knelt in protest during the United States national anthem and became more widespread during the Black Lives Matter movement.
As head of football’s anti-racism body, there was dread for Sanjay Bhandari watching England’s Women’s Euros quarter-final with Sweden.
But that’s, grimly, how it always is. Concerned that black players will be singled out for blame. Not with a legitimate critique of their performances, but with toxicity and racism.
And now Kick It Out is working with the Football Association to support Jess Carter after the England defender spoke out over the abuse she has been targeted with throughout the Women’s European Championship.
The players want social media firms to do more, but Mr Bhandari, the Kick It Out chairman, is concerned by their limited approach to the scourge of online hate.
Jess Carter says she has been the target of racist abuse. Pic: PA
“The social media companies need to do far more,” he told Sky News. “They’ve actually gone backwards over the last four or five years, not forwards. It’s got worse on social media, not better.
“And they need to provide us with the tools to help keep us safe and to remove some of this toxicity from the platforms. They’re just not doing enough.
“I would say that X is the worst. It has become no-holds-barred.
“And with Instagram, it is much more in the direct messaging, and I think there needs to be much more done there to protect people from those messages.”
Meta, which owns Instagram, did not reply to a request for comment.
There was no response from an email sent to X’s press email address.
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‘People need to be held accountable’ after Euros racism
LinkedIn indicated that X’s UK managing director Jonathan Lewis’s account had seen a request for comment, but there was no response.
On Friday, Mr Lewis and Premier League club Burnley were celebrating a new partnership in an announcement that made no mention of the abuse that many players across the world face on X.
The hope is that the Online Safety Act will lead to social media firms implementing the safety tools required of them.
Mr Bhandari said: “They have to be enforced by law enforcement against individual perpetrators, and also the regulatory parts need to be forced against the social media companies to force them to do the things that they need to do.”
Grimly familiar situation
The FA reported the abuse suffered by Carter to police, and the hope is for speedy action because this is a grimly familiar situation.
After the men’s Euros final in 2021, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were racially abused after missing penalties in the shootout defeat to Italy.
Bukayo Saka was among the England players targeted after missing penalties in the Euros final. Pic: Reuters
While players have been taking a knee against racism in men’s and women’s games, the Lionesses feel that is no longer enough at these Euros.
They will stand instead before the semi-final with Italy because they say a new approach is needed to tackle racism.
Read more from Sky News:
Lionesses ‘very optimistic’ Williamson will be fit for semi-final
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Carter didn’t just face racism around the quarter-final that England won on penalties after fighting back from 2-0 down against Sweden here in Zurich.
She has been subjected to abuse throughout the Euros.
“I’m really feeling for Jess and what’s sad is that this is shocking, but not surprising,” Mr Bhandari said.
“I watch every England game, at every tournament, with the fear that after the match, there’s going to be abuse of a black player using the spurious basis of performance as an excuse to justify unjustifiable racism. All racism is unjustifiable.
“The fact that someone’s had a good or bad game in your opinion does not justify that kind of racist abuse.”
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