The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK government will meet its manifesto commitment to build one million homes over this Parliament, according to a government statement. The current Parliament will dissolve in December 2024. The focus of the housebuilding manifesto is on inner-city areas, with measures to “unblock the planning system and build more homes in the right places”.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said in the statement: “Rather than concreting over the countryside, we have set out a plan to build the right homes in the right places where there is community support.” The plans include a new urban quarter in Cambridge to “unlock the city’s full potential as a source of innovation and talent”, writes the statement.
The UK government has also announced a Planning Skills Delivery Fund worth 24 million British pounds to clear bottlenecks in the planning system. According to the statement, developers will be asked to contribute more through fees, to help support a more efficient planning service. There will also be more freedoms to convert shops and other businesses into homes. ce/em
