The government has outlined plans to tackle England’s housing shortage, with local councils given targets for new homes in their area. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the focus is on areas where housing is least affordable.
The aim is for 370,000 new homes in England every year, to fulfil a government promise for 1.5m new homes within the next five years. Local authorities are being told to give developers permission to build.
Millions of people can’t afford to buy their first home and there is a backlog of people living in unsuitable accommodation. According to the government, 1.3 million households are on social housing waiting lists and a record number – including 160,000 children – are in temporary accommodation.
Areas with the most unaffordable housing but the greatest potential for growth have the highest housebuilding targets, the government said. Cities facing an increase include St Albans, Oxford, and London.
The government will be “focusing growth on city regions”, Pennycook told the Commons. The South East as a whole will have an annual quota of almost 71,000, an increase of about 20,000.
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