🏗️ It’s time to build, baby, build! 🚧
Housing Secretary Steve Reed is rolling out a “building acceleration package” to kick-start house building across the UK. With the latest planning figures showing a drop in the number of applications received and decided, action is needed now more than ever.
Between April and June 2025, only 80,400 planning applications were received, down 5% from last year. Despite this, 70,800 approvals were granted—a slight improvement of 1%. Reed finds this pace “unacceptable” and is determined to speed things up to meet Labour’s goal of building 1.5 million new homes before the end of Parliament.
He promises to leave “no stone unturned” in fixing the dated planning system, claiming that under his leadership, we’ll see a historic boost in housing developments. In London, where approvals are at a low, Reed plans to collaborate with Mayor Sadiq Khan to accelerate progress.
Critics, like shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly, argue that Labour’s planning reforms aren’t delivering as promised, particularly in Labour-run areas like London. Meanwhile, Reed is eager to see more homes for families and room for businesses to thrive.
Britain, get ready for a building boom! 🏘️🏢🏠