Angela Rayner to push for ‘new wave’ of homes to ‘turn the tide’ on housebuilding crisis

Angela Rayner will bring builders, councils and housing leaders together in a new national board to identify obstacles to housebuilding. The meeting is intended to speed up development and support a new wave of social, council and affordable homes amid England’s housing crisis.

Labour’s target is to build 1.5 million homes in England by the next general election, though Rayner has said there is only a “slim chance” of meeting it. The government says construction costs and disruption from the Iran war have made the goal harder, while 420 planning officers have been recruited, exceeding a pledge of 300. The government also says housing starts are up 20% on the same period last year.