Labour MP Jeff Smith has welcomed an overhaul of planning policy announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner in Parliament.

The package of proposals will reverse the damaging set of changes made last December when the outgoing Conservative Government scrapped mandatory housing targets and torpedoed housebuilding rates.

Construction to build new homes was down nearly 40% in the first three months of this year, compared with the year before.

The updated National Planning Policy Framework published at the end of last month also sets out a more strategic approach, prioritising poor-quality grey-belt land for building and introducing “golden rules” to ensure development works for local people and nature.

In addition to these reforms to the planning system, the Government is also taking steps to deliver quality affordable and social housing, working to reverse the continued decline in the number of social rent homes.

This includes changes to Right to Buy, giving councils flexibility to use their receipts to build and buy more social homes.

Jeff Smith MP said:

“Labour was elected on a commitment to get Britain building.

“That’s how we’ll grow our economy, fix and fund our public services, and deliver on the priorities for people here in south Manchester.

“The work to turn the tide on Tory failure and put an end to the housing crisis we’ve inherited has begun. It will mean delivering infrastructure and public services alongside new homes to unlock economic opportunities.

“We were elected on a mandate to build the homes Britain needs and take the tough choices to unblock the planning system and make it a reality.”

You can find out more here.

The consultation on proposed changes to the NPPF is now open, until 24^th September.