Angela Rayner has come under fire from the Tories after planning reforms were unveiled in a bid to reach Labour’s housebuilding target. The Government is seeking to boost smaller developers with faster planning decisions and financial backing to speed up building new homes.
It will set out the details of proposals to slash red tape and to shift planning decisions away from councillors and towards expert officers as part of efforts to meet Labour’s pledge to build 1.5million homes by 2029-30. Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, said it was time to “level the playing field” for smaller housebuilders.
But Tory Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “We are the party of small business and whilst in government we boosted finance and the allocation of more sites for SMEs. We have also been pushing the Government to do more, so welcome any workable changes to do so.
“But as long as Labour’s immigration conveyor belt continues, those homes will be of little benefit to the British public.
“The reality is that Labour are stripping councillors of the right to vote on local planning applications, concreting over the green belt and withdrawing support for first-time buyers. Even the Office for Budget Responsibility say Labour won’t meet their housing target.
“Just last week, Angela Rayner was caught plotting tax hikes on working families. What she will bring is higher taxes and less say over development in your community.”
