Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has stirred debate by refusing to commit to an annual housebuilding target, opting instead for a goal of 1.5 million homes over the parliamentary term.
Speaking on Sky News, Pennycook outlined Labour’s vision to reverse what he described as a housing “trough” caused by Conservative policies.
He emphasised that the goal of 1.5 million homes will likely see progress skewed towards the latter half of the five-year term, rather than achieving the widely discussed 300,000 homes annually.
Pennycook stated, “In the later years of this parliament, we will be on a trajectory of much higher housing numbers if all of our reforms are accepted and start to take effect.”
The lack of an annual benchmark has sparked concerns about accountability, with critics suggesting it makes tracking Labour’s progress difficult.
The minister faced scrutiny over how the projected 2.5 million legal migrants expected to arrive over the next parliament would be accommodated.
With no specific plans for migrant housing linked to the proposed new builds, Labour has come under fire for what some see as a lack of clarity on addressing housing supply pressures.
The UK faces a chronic housing shortage, driven by population growth, a lack of affordable homes, and planning bottlenecks. In 2019, the Conservative government pledged to deliver 300,000 new homes annually, a target it has repeatedly failed to meet.
Labour’s new framework aims to modernise and streamline planning processes while encouraging local councils to prioritise housing needs.
However, the absence of a yearly target has led to accusations that Labour is hedging its bets against potential failure.
