Labour Manifesto – Let’s get building

It’s no accident that, just hours after the Labour Party unveiled its election manifesto, with big plans to fast-track planning applications and build 1.5 million new homes over five years, it also issued a pledge to preserve the countryside.

Landowners with sites that could help ease the housing crisis and developers itching to build welcomed the promise from Sir Keir Starmer to oversee the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. Breaking the log jam of planning applications, with more planning officers to process applications, will be key to the success of the policy.

But the Labour leader, desperate not to throw away his substantial lead in the polls as the election draws nearer, is acutely aware that not every voter wants to see a massive boost to house building, particularly if it means new development in his or her ‘backyard.’

So, while unveiling his plans to back the builders not the blockers Sir Keir also included the line in the manifesto which reads: “Labour is committed to preserving the green belt which has served England’s towns and cities well over many decades.”  Poor quality green belt land, on the other hand, could be ripe for development.

Some might call this having your cake and eating it.

But manifestos are one thing.  The way a party acts when it gets into government is another.  And the tone of Labour’s manifesto centred on the need to go for growth. 

For would-be homeowners hit by the housing crisis, landowners desperate to build and developers poised to put spades in the ground, the message from Sir Keir could not have been clearer.

Despite the suggestion from some quarters of disappointment in the sector at the party’s more cautious approach than expected on the green belt, most will have taken away positive news from the manifesto launch.

The devil, however, will be in the detail and how is delivered.  Britain’s sclerotic planning system is clearly ripe for a shake-up but changing attitudes on local planning authorities – and providing the professionals to speed up the system – takes time.

Standby for some fireworks as the Nimbys – and those with genuine concerns about where and how Britain builds – mount their challenges as the planning applications roll in, if Labour wins power. 

The direction of travel is, however, clear.  Labour believes promising to get more houses built is a vote winner.  We’ll soon know if that’s true.