The Government has introduced the New Homes Accelerator programme to address delays in the construction of new homes across England. The initiative, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, is designed to speed up the delivery of large-scale housing projects that have been stalled in the planning process, with an aim to help deliver up to 300,000 new homes on 200 identified sites.

Programme Details and Objectives

The New Homes Accelerator will bring together experts from the Ministry of Housing and Homes England, working closely with local councils, developers, and other key players to identify and resolve specific issues that are holding back housing developments. The focus will be on sites that are caught in delays or have started but are not yet completed.

The programme is intended to cut through red tape, improve planning processes, and provide additional resources to local planning departments where needed. The goal is to make sure planning decisions are made more swiftly to help build new homes and support economic growth.

Focus Areas and Sites

The Government has identified several sites where the Accelerator will begin its efforts, including Stretton Hall in Leicestershire, Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community in Essex, and Biggleswade Garden Community in Central Bedfordshire. These sites alone could provide over 10,000 new homes when completed.

Additionally, a call for evidence has been launched, inviting landowners, local authorities, and developers to share details of sites that have significant planning challenges. This will help identify where interventions are needed most to tackle obstacles preventing the delivery of new homes.

Local Government Perspective

Cllr Claire Holland, Housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, commented, “Addressing the shortage of all types and tenures of housing, including affordable and social homes, in this country remains top of the priority list for councils. Working together to unblock stalled sites through the New Homes Accelerator will deliver more of the homes we need.”

Considerations for Rural Areas

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, highlights the importance of the programme for rural communities: "While this initiative presents opportunities to deliver new homes, it will be important to ensure that rural areas receive the attention they need, considering the specific challenges they face in development."

The New Homes Accelerator is part of a wider government plan to address housing shortages and modernise the planning system, including the recent introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and additional resources for local planning departments.

For further details on the New Homes Accelerator and the call for evidence, you can visit the Government's official website HERE.