New Homes Accelerator speeds up 100,000 homes

The New Homes Accelerator has helped to speed up the building of almost 100,000 homes throughout England.

Nearly 100,000 homes on large developments that were previously stuck in the planning system are being supported to progress more quickly.

The New Homes Accelerator has been working to address challenges that were holding back development on large consented sites, by leveraging resource and expertise available to government and Homes England.

The Accelerator has intervened through support such as providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles, to help speed up the delivery of 36,000 new homes.

The team has also driven forward planning proposals for another 63,000 homes through close engagement with arms-length bodies and other government departments.

The Accelerator will now work to tackle specific problems on six new sites including Comeytrowe, also known as Orchard Grove, in Somerset, Wisley Airfield in Guildford, North Leigh Park in Wigan and Hampden Fields in Aylesbury.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said: “We’ve rolled up our sleeves and are breaking down the barriers which stop us from building the houses to buy and rent that families and young people need, helping to speed up the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes already.    

“We are continuing to take decisive action through our New Homes Accelerator to speed up the delivery of homes, meet our stretching 1.5 million homes target through the Plan for Change, and get spades in the ground to turn the tide on the housing crisis.”

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I’m pleased the government is working with London boroughs to unblock housebuilding as part of its plan to deliver the good growth our country needs. I’m determined to use all the powers at my disposal to build the homes Londoners need and get Britain building again. 

“I look forward to working with Ministers on the action and investment needed to accelerate the delivery of new homes as we continue building a better, fairer London for everyone.”