"Steve Reed, in this new role as Secretary of State, will ultimately be judged not by the volume of announcements but by the outcomes. If he can build consensus across local authorities, streamline regulation, properly fund planning departments and accelerate new towns, there is still a chance to turbo-charge housing delivery within this Parliament"
- Lawrence Turner - Boyer
The first year of this Government was marked by a welcome sense of urgency. Angela Rayner’s planning reforms rightly acknowledged the scale of the housing crisis and the urgent need for bold, decisive action. The baton has now passed to Steve Reed, who must continue to unlock delivery to provide the homes and infrastructure that are so badly needed.
As planning consultants, we recognise that much of what Labour has introduced is what we have long called for. The new Government has shifted policy that, for too long, failed to confront the housing crisis, prioritising the protection of the Green Belt above meeting housing need; a stance that has left the housing shortage more acute than ever.
Announcements on local plan-making, local government reform, planning committee reform, nature recovery, nutrient neutrality, phosphates and much more mark a serious attempt to confront long-standing barriers to development. But if the housing shortage is to be addressed at the pace required, the Government must now go further.
Below is a wishlist for Labour’s Party Conference – a series of practical steps that could help ensure words are translated into delivery.
1. Plan-making requires continuity
Local plan preparation is the foundation of housing delivery. Continuity here is critical. Councils need assurance that the 30-month local plan timetable remains intact despite substantial changes in local government structures.
While the Government has confirmed that local authorities with Plans already underway should adopt them under the existing system by December 2026, there is little on the timing of secondary legislation and clear guidance on how the new plan-making timetable will operate in practice. Without this certainty, plan-making risks stalling at precisely the moment when momentum is most needed.
3. Resource planning departments properly
A planning system is only as effective as the people who operate it. Planning departments at local authorities should be allowed to retain 100% of planning fees, enabling them to invest in staffing and recruit new planners. Delivery depends on capacity.
2. Unblock nutrient neutrality and water scarcity
The Secretary of State must act swiftly to remove two major barriers to housing delivery: nutrient neutrality and water scarcity. The Nature Restoration Fund is a welcome step, but unless accelerated, it will not provide the certainty developers and local authorities need. Progress here could unlock tens of thousands of homes currently stuck in limbo.
4. Deliver new towns and growth areas
The Government has signalled its intent to revive new towns, and we look forward to finally seeing the New Towns Taskforce’s list of new towns locations next week. These strategic projects can deliver housing and infrastructure at a scale that piecemeal development cannot. But ambition alone is not enough. New towns require direct government support, targeted infrastructure investment and a clear framework to unlock land quickly. Without this, the rhetoric of “new towns” risks being reduced to political theatre.
5. Rebuild the construction workforce
Even if land is released and consents secured, we do not have enough builders to meet demand. The supply chain and construction workforce is tied to the current built-out rates. Investment in apprenticeships, training and upskilling across all trades, including planning, is essential. Without it, housing targets will remain unachievable.
6. Streamline environmental regulation without weakening protection
Environmental considerations must never be dismissed, but the current system is weighed down by excessive bureaucracy. From Environmental Impact Assessments to Habitat Regulations, the sheer number of consents is overwhelming. HS2 highlighted how regulations can become disproportionate, with vast sums spent on ecological mitigation measures of questionable value.
The task for the government is not to weaken environmental protection but to make regulations more efficient.
7. Invest in building consensus with local communities
The Housing Crisis cannot be solved by policy alone. Public support is vital. Too often, debates are framed in binary terms: pro-development or anti-development, NIMBY or YIMBY. The reality is more nuanced. In our towns and cities, many communities recognise the urgent need for new homes, yet they fear the strain this will place on already stretched local services. Meanwhile, in rural areas, communities often feel more distant from the crisis and ask, “Why here?” when proposals are introduced.
The Secretary of State must lead a national effort to build trust, explaining clearly how infrastructure is delivered, who pays for it and how communities will benefit. For new towns in particular, the test will be whether they provide not just houses but schools, GP surgeries and transport links.
If we are to make real progress, we must engage with the legitimate concerns of all communities, urban and rural alike, building trust, understanding, and a shared sense of responsibility.
8. Recognise the role of market sentiment
Finally, we must acknowledge that planning reform alone cannot revive the housing market. Confidence, fiscal stability and market sentiment matter as much as policy reform. At present, many households and investors are waiting for conditions to improve before committing.
The Chancellor has as much influence here as the Secretary of State. Rachel Reeves must continue to place housing at the centre of economic policy, framing it as an engine for growth. However, the Chancellor needs to go further to increase capital expenditure and treat housing as an important national infrastructure that aligns Government investment with local plans.
The need for delivery
Steve Reed, in this new role as Secretary of State, will ultimately be judged not by the volume of announcements but by the outcomes. If he can build consensus across local authorities, streamline regulation, properly fund planning departments and accelerate new towns, there is still a chance to turbo-charge housing delivery within this Parliament.
The Government has the opportunity to create a planning system that delivers sustainable growth, an economy boosted by construction, and a housing market that works for the next generation. This must be a priority for the Labour Party Conference.
