Labour's House Building and Planning Vision unveiled by Angela Rayner
On 30 July 2024, Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government unveiled the Government’s housing targets throughout Parliament.
The Government’s reforms include mandatory housing targets for councils, a review of the greenbelt to identify ‘grey belt’ land for housing development, and new requirements for local housing plans. These measures aim to address the pressing need for affordable housing and to invigorate economic growth through increased construction.
While the Association applauds the bold steps to tackle the housing crisis and stimulate economic growth, we express our disappointment that the critical role of green spaces in enhancing sustainability and community well-being within housing estates was not sufficiently highlighted in the Deputy Prime Minister’s statements in the commons. The Association welcomes the pledge to “increase access to green spaces” from the Deputy Prime Minister and looks forward to supporting the Government to ensure that this pledge is met to the highest standard, but we expected that this would have been explained in more detail in the commons.
Wayne Grills, CE of BALI said,
"We are encouraged by the Government's commitment to address the housing shortage and its recognition of the need for infrastructure development. The proposal to prioritise brownfield sites and the definition of ‘grey belt’ land are positive steps. However, we are concerned that the discussions around green spaces and their essential role in creating sustainable, liveable communities did not receive the attention they deserve."
The Association has long advocated for integrating green spaces into urban planning to enhance biodiversity, reduce pollution, and improve the quality of life for residents. Green spaces are not only vital for environmental sustainability but also play a crucial role in mental and physical health and wellbeing, community cohesion, and climate resilience.
Robust provisions for green spaces in development plans and planning reform are essential and must not be an afterthought from the Government in the race to meet the 1.5 million home-building commitment. The Association will work with members and provide support to ensure that they are ready to collaborate with local authorities and developers surrounding the design and implementation of landscaping solutions that support sustainability, nurture biodiversity and promote community well-being as the housebuilding agenda becomes more established. It is essential that as we build new homes and infrastructure, we do not compromise the green spaces that are fundamental to our quality of life. This is something that BALI will strongly and repeatedly campaign for throughout this Parliament.
The Association will engage policymakers within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, our members and wider industry stakeholders to advocate for policies that balance housing development with the preservation and enhancement of green spaces. We encourage members to reach out and share their thoughts and expectations so that we can represent them when engaging with the Government.