Labour's ambitious target to build 1.5 million new homes in five years has come under fierce criticism from Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake, who warns that the plans will devastate rural communities and green belt land.
The housing target, announced by Starmer as one of his six key "milestones", has sparked concerns about the disproportionate impact on countryside areas.
Hollinrake, speaking on GB News, said the proposals would "drive coach and horses - a bulldozer if you like" through local concerns about development locations.
“1.5 million homes, but lots of those homes are going to be built in green belt, in rural areas. Targets in London will be reduced. Targets in most of rural areas, big rural areas across the country will be doubled.
Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake warned the plans will devastate rural communities
GB News
“So, it's really where they're going to be built, is the concern. And the thing is, people's concerns are going to be completely swept aside by Angela Rayner in this headlong rush to build more homes when we've already got lots of planning consents around the country.”
Speaking to Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello during Breakfast, he added: “What you've seen Angela Rayner doing is cutting targets in London by about 20 per cent and doubling targets in rural areas...
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“What we're seeing is typical socialism here, in terms of gerrymandering the house building out of urban areas and building in green belt and rural areas. That can't be right.
“You see in some parts of the country, Westmorland and Furness, for example, their numbers are a five-fold increase. Cumberland, a five-fold increase. North Yorkshire, a three-fold increase, with a 20 per cent cut in London.
“How can that be right when we know the demand for housing is in those urban areas? So yes, build and build more houses, but build them in the right places and make sure you have democratic consent.
“What we heard in Parliament this week as a result of an urgent question by ourselves, was that the Government is going to completely sweep aside local democratic consent. They're going to say councillors will not be able to review a new big housing development in their area. That's the reality.
Angela Rayner announced the Green belt plan
PA“They're going to build these homes without democratic approval. We are very concerned about that. Yes, supportive of more housing, but make sure you have democratic consent for that housing.”
The controversial plans include new mandatory housing targets and potential development of green belt land, marking a significant shift in planning policy.
Hollinrake highlighted stark disparities in the proposed housing distribution, pointing to dramatic increases in building targets for rural areas while London faces reduced quotas.
A key concern raised by Hollinrake centres on the erosion of local democratic oversight in planning decisions.
A key concern raised by Hollinrake centres on the erosion of local democratic oversight in planning decisions
GB News
The criticism comes as Labour pledges to put "builders not blockers first" in what Starmer describes as an overhaul of a "broken planning system".
Labour's planned overhaul of the planning system includes prioritising previously developed "brownfield" sites for new construction.
The Local Government Association has cautioned that planning reforms must be accompanied by broader measures.
