What Labour's plan to build would mean for landowners & developers

It has been a difficult few years for housebuilders and landowners who want to bring forward residential development plans. 

Delays over planning permissions, the Government’s failure to enforce house-building targets and challenging environmental rules all conspired to add pressure to Britain’s ability to meet its housing needs.  The pandemic and rising inflation forcing up interest rates only added to the sector’s woes.

But there was a glimmer of light from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer this week, who put building new homes front and centre of the policy announcements in his speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

The Labour leader, who has already styled his party as “builders, not blockers,” looks ready to take on those who warn that building in the countryside can be unpopular with voters, perhaps calculating that the need to end the housing crisis is more important than chasing votes from what some might call NIMBYS.

In what are among the most ambitious building plans unveiled in decades Sir Keir called for “a decade of national renewal.” He pledged to build 1.5m new homes in five years and create “the next generation of new towns” across the country.

He insisted his plans would not mean “tearing up the greenbelt” and promised to concentrate new towns and new development in areas of greatest housing need, avoiding spoiling areas of natural beauty.

Inevitably, however, there will be disagreement when broad aspirations become specific planning applications affecting real communities.

KOR Communications has worked with landowners and developers on a number of significant house building projects and can attest that early engagement, even before specific proposals are brought forward, can make the difference between support for a plan, or vigorous opposition.

Local authorities will play a key role and Sir Keir took a swipe in his speech at councils which don’t engage.  “No more local councils refusing to develop a local plan because they prefer the back door deal,” he told conference.

Andrew Howard, KOR’s Public Affairs Consultant, said:

“Labour’s plans to build 1.5 million homes in five years takes us back to the magic 300,000 annual target which has always just been out of reach. Because as a country we’ve missed that target so often it could be argued that there’s a need for even more new homes just to catch up.

“New communities and sustainable urban extensions must play a key role in meeting these targets – there isn’t enough available brownfield land in our towns and cities. Early and in-depth consultation with communities will help developers and decision-makers understand local needs and concerns, so people don’t feel things are being imposed on them.

“It’s also important to remember that new communities should be just that, and not simply housing numbers. They are shops, offices, schools, health hubs, parks, sports pitches, bus stops and more. Community engagement can help determine what facilities people want and need so new residents can be proud of where they live.”

Many developers will welcome a government, irrespective of its political make-up, that brings some clarity to the issue of house-building.  Significant challenges remain, not least the need for landowners and developers to see a meaningful return on the substantial investment required to bring forward a project and pay for vital infrastructure, like schools, healthcare and leisure facilities.

But by promising, as he did, to “put spades in the ground,” Sir Keir has signalled a determination to break through some of the barriers to meeting Britain’s housing needs.  Developers and landowners will be anxious to hear more.

KOR provides communications advice and support to landed estates and developers seeking planning approval for new projects.

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