Keir Starmer: I’ll take on Nimbys and get Britain building

Hard-working Metro readers deserve a good home to build their lives around. But too many people reading this won’t be able to afford that home. For millions, the housing market feels less like a ladder to help them get ahead in life, and more like a hamster wheel of struggling to stay in the same place. I’ve met people who work two jobs, but still can’t afford a house. Young people still living with parents. Families trapped in temporary accommodation. Or facing the instability of privately renting, unable to save for a deposit.

It’s about more than just bricks and mortar. I know from my own upbringing, a home means security. If you graft hard, the least you should expect is security. But the Tories broke that link by their failure to build the homes this country needs. My government is fixing it, to help more people get on the housing ladder. We’re demanding that mortgage rules be relaxed so they no longer block first time buyers. But we are going further. We will step in, and back buyers ourselves, through a permanent mortgage guarantee scheme that will mean lenders will loan to people with smaller deposits.

But we know this isn’t enough. So we will also turbocharge building. No more nonsense rules and regulations holding up development. We’re cutting through red tape to build 1.5 million high quality and well-designed homes across Britain. Here’s how. We’ve made it mandatory for local areas to plan and build the homes people need. We will no longer accept no for an answer. We’re rolling up our sleeves through the New Homes Accelerator programme.

Since the election, we’ve unblocked 20,000 homes that got stuck in the system under the previous government. Today, we’re announcing work to unblock more projects, including one in London that will include almost 4,000 homes, two primary schools, a health centre, local businesses and a new riverside park. We’re changing the bonkers system that stops us building train lines and homes to protect bats and newts.

We’re fast-tracking decisions for more than 150 major infrastructure projects to be signed off this parliament. That’s more than were decided in last 14 years under the Tories combined. Our determination to back the builders, not the blockers, is already making a difference; planning applications are expected to rise by almost 160% because businesses recognise this government is serious about getting Britain building.

But we need to go further and faster. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. We’re targeting the best places in the country to deliver the next generation of new towns. Places close to existing infrastructure and near good jobs and opportunities. The sort of places where people want to live and can thrive.

We won’t allow landowners to hold out for huge profits from developers that drive house prices up and quality down. We’ll make sure land is bought at a fair price, with the power to make compulsory purchase orders where necessary. When planning permission is granted, the land will go up in value. And because of the scale of these developments, that uplift will be invested directly in the new community from the start – in the roads, schools, public transport and GP surgeries that strong communities need.

I know there will be huge opposition to this. For too long, the NIMBYs and naysayers have been able to clog up our system so things can’t get built. But I refuse to accept the cynics’ claim that no one wants these homes. In fact, we’ve had more than 100 proposals across the country to build new towns. They’ll be affordable, safe and warm. They’ll have the services communities need. They’ll be well connected, well designed, with good access to green space and nature.

They’ll provide the security working families deserve. This is all part of our Plan for Change. We’ll make the dream of homeownership a reality for millions of working people. Siding with the builders, not the blockers. And putting spades in the ground to build a Britain built to last. Sir Keir will answer queries about his building plans in Metro next week. Email mail@ukmetro.co.uk. Arrow MORE: Keir Starmer reveals plans for 4,000 homes to be built in London.