A Labour government would reintroduce mandatory housebuilding targets for local authorities, the leader of the opposition has said.
Last year, the government abandoned a manifesto pledge to build 300,000 new homes a year by scrapping mandatory housebuilding targets for local authorities, making them advisory instead following a rebellion by several back bench MPs including former environment minister, Theresa Villiers.
A pledge to build 300,000 homes a year was part of the 2019 Conservative manifesto, a target which levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, committed himself to.
Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would “get the target back” but would also look to “take on planning laws, make sure local authorities have greater powers to decide where the housing will be in their patch and make sure we have vehicles for delivery” such as more housing and development corporations.
Sir Keir added, “having your own house is hugely important for security” and that is why “people dream, aspire to have their own house”. The Labour leader said “that dream has been killed by the prime minister, because he took down the targets”.
Estate agents could be banned from selling new builds to homeowners
