Ealing to be set mandatory target for building new homes

The new Labour government has set a mandatory target of 80,000 new homes to be built a year in London with Ealing Council saying: “It remains unclear what methodology will be applied to any new housing requirement at the level of individual boroughs”.

While Ealing Council wouldn’t be drawn on how many new homes will be built in the borough over the next five years, a government announcement suggests that it will be expected to have 3,132 homes a year built under its new plans.

Overall the target for London has dropped from 98,796 a year from the previous Conservative government to 80,693 with the new Labour government.

In the year 2022-2023, Ealing Council said 2,100 new homes were completed across the borough and that it had the highest number of housing completions in London for the year.

Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said of the new government plans: “It remains unclear what methodology will be applied to any new housing requirement at the level of individual boroughs, but the earliest changes are likely to come into force would be 2027.”

Overall, the government has said it will be setting a mandatory target across England of 1.5 million new homes to be built over the next five years.

Announcing the move last week (31 July 2024), Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner said: “Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them.”

Ms Rayner added: “And something I am personally proud of, our new flexibilities for councils will boost the number of social and affordable homes, and give working families a better route to a secure home.”

Prior to the announcement of the mandatory targets, Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council and London Councils’ Executive Member for Planning & Skills, said of the government planning reforms.

“There is no doubt that more homes are urgently needed in London and indeed around the country. Boroughs are strongly pro-housing growth and welcome the government’s focus on boosting housebuilding – including affordable homes and social housing.

“New flexibilities over how we use Right to Buy sales receipts are a big step in the right direction. Reducing restrictions will help ensure more money raised from council house sales is better invested locally in building replacement homes.

“London boroughs have a good record in granting planning permission, but construction of new homes has seriously stalled in the capital and we’re keen to work with the government in addressing this. As well as improving the planning system, we also need action on the other major factors undermining housebuilding – including the lack of local infrastructure, construction skills shortages, and insufficient long-term funding for affordable homes.”