Andy Burnham pledges quicker council housebuilding to tackle “housing trap”
Burnham said his Government would follow a housing first approach like Finland and would help councils use brownfield land to build affordable homes in town centres.
Andy Burnham (pictured) has set out plans to speed up council housebuilding and end what he described as a “housing trap” in his latest speech in Manchester today, 29th June.
Burnham said his Government would follow a housing first approach like Finland, where homelessness has fallen in recent years, and would help councils use brownfield land to build affordable homes in town centres.
Burnham said: “We are forced to chase rent in the private rented sector through the benefits system.
“When Governments try to control these costs by freezing the local housing allowance, it makes families homeless and places unfunded pressures on councils when they have to pay for temporary accommodation.”
Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, said: “Propertymark welcomes ambitions that place housing at the heart of UK Government policy.
“Ensuring the right homes are built in the right places at the right time is essential to help meet the needs of an ever-growing population.
“Alongside social and council housing, continued investment in homes for private ownership and in the private rented sector is also vital to ensure the needs of a diverse housing market are fully met and that the promise to deliver 1.5 million affordable and sustainable homes in England by 2029 is fulfilled.”
Emerson added: “At the same time, any major housing reform must be carefully scrutinised to ensure it achieves all intended outcomes.
“Greater local control could help support a more responsive overall decision-making process that better reflects regional housing needs moving forward.”
Related
Industry leaders call for Government action on housebuilding as Andy Burnham steps up as PM
Stamp Duty could deter new housing starts, says Menzies LLP
Burnham pledges crackdown on landlords over poor-quality homes
Vistry posts record pre-tax loss amid housebuilding crisis
Construction downturn eases to eight-month low – S&P Global
More adults support local housebuilding than oppose it – Barclays
Planning stability drives highest housebuilding levels, research reveals
Planning approvals for new homes fall 21% in Q2 – HBF
New build starts up 6% as completions drop by 3% – MHCLG
Homes England delivers over 40,000 new housing starts and completions in 2025/2026
Housebuilding won’t recover unless viability and buyer confidence improve, experts warn