The UK Government has announced the New Homes Accelerator, a key initiative designed to unlock stalled housing projects across England. This programme aims to fast-track the delivery of thousands of homes currently delayed by planning issues and regulatory barriers, with a target to contribute significantly to the 1.5 million new homes promised by the government.
With a dedicated team from the Ministry of Housing and Homes England, the initiative seeks to resolve problems at over 200 large housing sites that could deliver up to 300,000 homes. The focus is on addressing the local and national challenges that have prevented these projects from moving forward.
The Need for Acceleration in Housing Delivery
The New Homes Accelerator responds to the pressing need to alleviate the UK’s housing shortage. Large-scale projects that have already received planning approval but remain unbuilt, or are blocked in the planning system, are identified as crucial to closing the gap between demand and supply. The Accelerator aims to bring these projects forward by providing additional support to developers and local authorities, helping to clear blockages in the system.
Practical Interventions for Stalled Projects
The New Homes Accelerator offers a hands-on approach by deploying experts to work directly with local councils, planning authorities, and housebuilders. The goal is to resolve the specific issues delaying each site. This could include providing additional planning resources, facilitating strategic discussions with key stakeholders, or offering practical advice on overcoming barriers to development.
The government has already identified several key sites, such as Stretton Hall in Leicestershire and Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community in Essex, where intervention could unlock over 10,000 homes. The Accelerator will work to ensure that such large projects, which are essential for meeting housing demand, progress without further delays.
A Balanced View: Potential Challenges and Considerations
While the New Homes Accelerator presents an optimistic outlook on resolving housing delays, there are potential challenges. The success of the initiative depends heavily on effective collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including under-resourced local planning departments. Although the government has committed to providing additional support, the logistics of deploying planning experts quickly and effectively may prove challenging.
Moreover, while the focus is on larger developments, smaller sites also face significant delays. A balanced approach will be needed to ensure that both large and small developers benefit from the programme, reducing the risk of disproportionately favouring large housebuilders over smaller projects.
There is also the issue of balancing the speed of delivery with the quality of housing. Rushed developments can lead to inadequate infrastructure and strained local services. The government must ensure that alongside rapid housing delivery, appropriate infrastructure such as transport, schools, and healthcare are considered to support new communities.
Call for Sites: An Opportunity for Developers and Local Authorities
As part of the implementation of the New Homes Accelerator, in August 2024 the government issued a Call for Sites to gather information on housing developments that are experiencing significant delays. This process is open to developers, local authorities, and landowners, with the aim of identifying stalled large-scale developments and understanding the challenges they face.
Submissions should outline the nature of the delays or obstacles, and explain whether government intervention could help accelerate the project. While there is no guarantee of support for every submission, the government’s intention is to assess these projects and identify where strategic advice, planning assistance, or facilitation with stakeholders could make a difference.
For developers, this represents an opportunity to engage directly with the government to potentially fast-track stalled projects. The application form for the Call for Sites is available until 31 October 2024, and submissions can be made through the Ministry of Housing’s official portal.
Moving Forward: The Road to 1.5 Million Homes
The New Homes Accelerator is just one component of the government’s broader strategy to address the housing crisis. Complementing this programme is the recently announced Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which aims to modernise the planning system and improve local decision-making processes.
Through these combined efforts, the government hopes to not only meet its ambitious housing targets but also provide a long-term solution to the UK’s housing shortage. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on careful implementation, sustained collaboration with local authorities, and a commitment to maintaining quality standards in housing and infrastructure.
