Government 1.5 million housebuilding target would only ‘dent’ need, says Rayner
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The Government’s target for 1.5million new homes would only leave “a dent” in the country’s housing need, Angela Rayner has said. The Deputy Prime Minster told a committee of MPs that they are “achievable targets” that have been set by ministers, but also that it would only go someway to delivering “the houses we desperately need”.
The Government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament, and last month announced a shake-up of planning rules that will see mandatory building targets for councils in England. Ms Rayner took questions from the housing, communities and local government committee of MPs on Tuesday, and was asked whether annual targets could be reviewed or increased towards the end of the Parliament if needed to hit the 1.5 million total.
She told the committee: “I’ve set that target and most people to be honest […] say ‘this is ridiculous we can’t make that target’. “If somebody wants to come forward and beat that target we’re not going to turn around and say no you can’t do that.”.
Ms Rayner – who also serves as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – called the 1.5 million figure a “stretch target” but that she was “determined” to not “lose this fight, and added: “Even if I achieve and this Government achieves the 1.5 million homes target, it is a dent.
