Planning ‘accelerator’ programme sped up delivery of nearly 100,000 new homes: Government

The initiative - which was established in August 2024 - helps connect planning experts from the Ministry and Homes England with councils to accelerate the build-out of homes delayed by planning 'red tape'.

In the twelve months since launching the programme, the New Homes Accelerator has intervened by providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles to help speed up the delivery of 36,000 new homes across England, according to the Government.

It said that the team has also driven forward planning proposals for another 63,000 homes through close engagement with arms-length bodies and other government departments.

The team is now set to tackle problems on six new sites, including Comeytrowe, also known as Orchard Grove, in Somerset, Wisley Airfield in Guildford, North Leigh Park in Wigan and Hampden Fields in Aylesbury, alongside two further sites confirmed in London, at Billet Road and High Road West.

The Government said concentrating on the six sites will expedite the delivery of more than 12,000 homes, with at least 25% affordable housing across all sites.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, said: "We are continuing to take decisive action through our New Homes Accelerator to speed up the delivery of homes, meet our stretching 1.5 million homes target through the Plan for Change, and get spades in the ground to turn the tide on the housing crisis."

Adam Carey