Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has outlined the Government’s priorities for housing delivery in a letter to Peter Freeman, chair of Homes England.
Pennycook emphasised the agency’s role in achieving the target of building 1.5 million new homes during the current Parliament.
Pennycook expressed gratitude for the early support from Homes England, and stressed the urgency of increasing housing supply.
He wrote: “Boosting housing supply and unlocking economic growth is a top priority for this Government. We are determined to deliver 1.5 million new homes.”
The Housing Minister praised the progress made so far, citing the launch of reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the creation of the New Homes Accelerator, and the establishment of a New Towns Taskforce.
However, he noted that more work remains, setting out seven key priorities for the agency to address in the short-term, urging it to accelerate housing development and increase delivery in the next financial year.
Pennycook said the agency “must do everything in its power to accelerate development,” encouraging the use of existing powers such as compulsory purchase to unlock land for housing.
He also called for support for large, stalled sites and emphasised the importance of social and affordable housing.
Pennycook also highlighted the need for long-term strategic planning, pointing to a revised housing strategy that will focus not only on building more homes but on “quality of build and good placemaking.”
He concluded by asking Homes England to ensure strong governance and work closely with ministers and local authorities to meet the country’s housing needs.
