“My job should be on the line” – Steve Reed

In an interview with BBC Panorama aired on Monday, Steve Reed insisted that he expects “to be held to account” over the Government’s 1.5 million home target and his “job should be on the line” should he fail to reach it.

On a programme that covered all areas of the housebuilding crisis, from the skills shortage to the planning process to Right to Buy, the Secretary for Housing once again promised that he “had the determination to solve the housing crisis”, identifying it as “one of the drivers […] of a loss of confidence in our system”.

Reed also stated that he was looking how to “incentivise” councils to follow the department’s new grey belt rules, and highlighted that he was ready to call in and reverse decisions where local authorities have “unreasonably” rejected an application.

Despite a firm commitment to the government’s manifesto target, Reed was less clear how an increased supply of new homes would resolve the affordability crisis without reducing house prices. This comes as Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, announced a temporarily reduced affordable homes target of just 20% for schemes in the capital. Any proposals demonstrating a higher amount will only half to pay half of their CIL requirements, in an attempt to increase viability at a time of record low construction in the city.

Press reports this week have also claimed that ministers are considering a “brownfield passport” for schemes that meet certain criteria, such as “aesthetically pleasing” home design. This is the latest among a stream of rumours out of Whitehall that the government are looking to further accelerate the housebuilding system, with Matthew Pennycook insisting that the Government were moving towards the “final phase” of planning reform at a Labour Party fringe event just weeks ago.

You can watch the full BBC Panorama “The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes” here.