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Tag: 2024

  • PRESS RELEASE : New Victims Minister hears from frontline staff at coalface of supporting survivors of crime during first visit [August 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : New Victims Minister hears from frontline staff at coalface of supporting survivors of crime during first visit [August 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 August 2024.

    Frontline staff laid bare the challenges they face in helping victims navigate the criminal justice system during a visit from the new Minister for Victims, Alex Davies-Jones.

    • at Victim Support HQ, Minister pledges to give victims back their voice and restore their fundamental rights
    • government pledges fresh approach to halve violence against women and girls in next decade
    • first steps outlined in new Victims Bill with Minister promising public “the hard work starts now”

    Visiting Victim Support’s new London headquarters, the Minister heard first-hand the realities of delivering vital support services for brave survivors in a system in crisis.

    The visit follows plans set out in the King’s Speech to bring forward a Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill to give victims the justice and support they deserve as part of the government’s blueprint to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.

    Determined that the justice system will provide a safe space for victims to report and recover from crime, Minister Davies-Jones told staff the government will serve the public by ensuring the voices of brave survivors are returned to the heart of the system and their rights are upheld at every stage of the process.

    Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls Alex Davies-Jones said:

    Victims and survivors are being failed by a system they feel does not support them. Rape victims are waiting years for justice and an appalling 60 percent of victims choose to withdraw entirely from the process rather than prolong their pain.

    This government is committed to restoring trust in our justice system, halving violence against women and ensuring victims’ rights are upheld.  In light of recent events, this has never been more important. The Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill is just the first step of many in achieving this – and I want to reassure victims that the hard work starts now.

    Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Victim Support is an invaluable service for victims and survivors across the country – delivering specialist and tailored support to people affected by crime and anti-social behaviour. It also runs the Government’s Homicide Service which helps bereaved families or eyewitnesses affected by murder or manslaughter.

    Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at the charity Victim Support said:

    We were delighted to welcome the Victims and VAWG Minister to our London offices earlier this week to meet with frontline staff and discuss the many challenges facing victims. Minister Davies-Jones took the time to hear about the vital role of independent support services in helping people to cope and move on after crime.

    We look forward to working with the government to improve the lives of victims and repair the criminal justice system.

    The visit follows recent research from the National Police Chief’s Council on violence against women and girls. This showed  these appalling crimes increased by 37 per cent between 2018 and 2023, with at least 1 in every 12 women falling victim each year.

    During this month’s King’s Speech, the government announced plans for a new Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill which will deliver a justice system that gives victims of crimes get the support they deserve.

    The Bill will include measures that:

    • strengthen powers for the Victims’ Commissioner to ensure that they are empowered to hold the system to account for the needs of victims not being met
    • require offenders to attend their sentencing hearings so that victims and bereaved family members of deceased victims see criminals face the consequences of their actions
    • protect the public from sex offenders, restricting parental responsibility for child sex offenders and implementing restrictions on sex offenders changing their names
  • Steve Reed – 2024 Speech at the Summer Stakeholder Reception

    Steve Reed – 2024 Speech at the Summer Stakeholder Reception

    The speech made by Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, at the Garden Museum in Lambeth on 31 July 2024.

    First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for joining us today – and in particular to our hosts at the Garden Museum. I used to be the council leader in Lambeth, and it’s exciting to be in a familiar space.

    It’s great to see lots of familiar faces, many who I met during my time on the opposition benches. Those years are happily behind us now.

    We’re united in our ambition to restore nature and support our rural economies and our rural communities. In the past, to me, it’s too often felt like the government wasn’t listening to our partners across the sector.

    I want to change that.

    I’ve been honoured to be appointed as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what is one of the most exciting and important briefs anywhere in government.

    But I know I can do more in this job if I work in close collaboration with all of you.

    So, your voices will now be heard.

    Because that is the way that together we can deliver the change our country wants to see and that our country voted for a little over three weeks ago.

    Things need to be different – and will be – different.

    We are at a critical moment for nature.

    We all want a future where our children can splash about carefree in our rivers, where our fields are full of healthy crops, where our shelves are full of good nutritious, affordable food, healthy animals graze, and our marine life flourishes.

    But without change we face a future where torrents of sewage swill through rivers, rolling hills transform into mountains of waste, the dawn chorus is increasingly silenced, and homes and businesses are underwater.

    For the past fourteen years, nature has been on a trajectory of decline – here at home and also internationally.

    It’s shocking – and profoundly upsetting – that Britain has become one of the most nature depleted countries on the planet.

    The voices of environmental organisations, farmers, businesses, rural businesses and so many others were ignored by the previous government.

    But I want to thank all of you for your efforts, whether that was fighting to protect vulnerable habitats and species, supporting farmers and fishing communities, or keeping rural communities alive.

    We want to reset the approach, raise ambition, and renew momentum

    so that our children – and their children – can have the future we want them to enjoy

    with clean rivers, fresh air, and limitless opportunities wherever they grow up.

    I want to restore that sense of national pride in our beautiful countryside.

    We need to show leadership on climate and nature at home, so we have the credibility to lead internationally.

    And that work of change has now begun.

    Britain is back on the international stage for nature and for the climate.

    I’ve set Defra five key priorities.

    We will clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes and seas.

    In the last few weeks, we’ve reset that relationship with the water industry with tough first measures introduced already, to start to stop illegal pollution of our waterways and a strong new partnership that is intended to bring in a massive investment in jobs that will upgrade our broken sewage infrastructure.

    We will end the throwaway society and work towards a zero-waste economy where resources are reused and recycled, creating new jobs and investment, but also protecting nature.

    We will support farmers to strengthen Britain’s food security and boost rural growth with a new deal for farmers, cutting energy bills, ending trade deals that undermine environmental and welfare standards, and buying more British produce with the public purse.

    We will speed up nature’s recovery, working with civil society, communities and businesses to restore and protect our natural world on land and in our oceans – at home as well as internationally.

    And we will speed up the building of our flood defences and drainage systems to keep people and businesses safe, generating jobs in all regions of our country.

    The Prime Minister has been clear that this Government’s top priority is to grow the economy.

    And whether it’s creating jobs and attracting investment in our water and waste sectors, building economic resilience through better flood defences and nature-based solutions or supporting our food and drink sector, from fishers and growers to retailers and hospitality, Defra’s work is fundamental to all of the government’s missions.

    Nature will get back its voice at the very heart of this government because, as everyone in this room already knows, without nature there is no economy, no food, no health and no society.

    It underpins everything.

    We’ve all enjoyed the mental and physical benefits of spending time outdoors.

    Access to nature has a key part to play in Labour’s mission to rebuild our NHS and improve the health of our nation.

    We are indebted to so many of you in this room whose work enables people to get outside, in our stunning National Parks, local nature reserves

    or right here in Lambeth, with community sessions in the museum’s garden.

    And we’ve committed to open up even more opportunities for adults and children alike to get out and enjoy nature

    with nine new national river walks, three new national forests, and increasing responsible access to the countryside so more people can enjoy the best of rural Britain and create memories that will last a lifetime.

    I recognise that we face a crisis – nature is dying, our rivers are polluted, and urgent action is paramount.

    But this decline is reversible

    and with the right approach I am confident we will change course.

    This approach involves collaboration and working in partnership –

    listening to your expertise and experience so we can shape policy and create the regulatory environment that will allow us to succeed.

    I’m delighted to sow those first seeds of change at the Garden Museum here today.

    Just as seeds take time to grow, we can’t fix our environment or clean up our rivers overnight – but, together, over the next weeks, months and years, we can nurture our countryside, restore nature, and build our rural economies so they bloom once more.

    Now let’s get those conversations going again tonight.

    Please come and say hello to me and my ministerial team dotted around the room [Daniel Zeichner, Emma Hardy, Mary Creagh].

    We’re all really keen to speak with you, to listen with you, not just tonight but also to work with you in the months and years ahead.

    Because as I’ve said, if we can tap into your insight, your expertise, and the networks and communities that you all represent, then nature and the future of nature is in the very best possible hands.

    Please enjoy the rest of the evening

    Thank you very much.

  • PRESS RELEASE : First Mission Board focuses on immediate action to make Britain a clean energy superpower [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : First Mission Board focuses on immediate action to make Britain a clean energy superpower [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 31 July 2024.

    Energy Secretary chairs first energy Mission Board to accelerate the UK’s efforts towards clean power by 2030 and energy independence.

    • Energy Secretary chairs first energy Mission Board, as government continues immediate action to deliver clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero
    • new forum key to securing British energy independence, with ministers tasked with accelerating plan to invest in clean, homegrown energy across Britain
    • meeting takes place as the biggest ever budget is confirmed for this year’s renewables auction – as part of government efforts to rapidly increase clean, cheap energy
    • follows on from early action to end onshore wind ban, unblock solar projects, launch major partnership with Great British Energy, and set up 2030 clean power Mission Control

    The Energy Secretary continued his drive to make Britain a clean energy superpower with a push for British-based clean, homegrown energy, as he chaired the first Energy Mission Board today (Wednesday 31 July).

    Ed Miliband convened Ministers from across government to ensure a relentless focus on delivering the Clean Energy Superpower mission, based on the twin objectives of delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating towards net zero, to boost energy independence, protect consumers, and support jobs across the country.

    The Energy Secretary will emphasise to colleagues the importance of the new forum as playing a vital role in driving forward ambitious, long-term plans to tackle the challenges the country faces and secure its energy independence.

    He will work closely with colleagues to rapidly increase the rollout of homegrown, clean energy and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuels, which is central to protecting billpayers, creating good, well-paid jobs and combatting the climate and nature crisis.

    The first meeting follows the immediate steps the Energy Secretary has taken to kickstart this work – including scrapping the onshore wind ban, unlocking solar production, and launching Great British Energy’s major partnership with The Crown Estate. To further support the rollout of new clean energy projects, he has also today confirmed the biggest ever budget for this year’s renewables auction – at over £1.5 billion.

    Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    In an unstable world, the best way to boost our energy security and protect billpayers permanently is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown energy – making Britain a clean energy superpower.

    As we move forward, our Mission Board will keep a laser focus across government on delivering clean, cheap energy to homes and businesses – but also on driving economic growth and creating skilled jobs right across the country.

    Also meeting for the first time today is the new Onshore Wind Taskforce. Chaired by the Energy Secretary and CEO of EDF Renewables, Matthieu Hue, the Taskforce will drive action across industry and Government to unblock barriers to rapidly increase onshore wind capacity. This comes as this year’s renewables auction will see £185 million made available for established technologies, including onshore wind and solar, an uplift of £65 million.

    CEO of EDF Renewables UK Matthieu Hue said :

    Onshore wind is already playing a vital role in the UK and is one of the most cost effective forms of new electricity generation but more must be done to unlock its full potential. By bringing industry and government together, the taskforce is focused on creating practical solutions to overcome barriers to accelerate our journey to achieving net zero. So let’s get to work.

    This also follows the launch of the department’s Mission Control – headed up by climate expert Chris Stark – to turbocharge the government’s mission to decarbonise Britain’s power system by 2030. Complementing the Mission Board, this will be focused on accelerating the transition away from volatile fossil fuel markets to clean, homegrown power by 2030 – boosting Britain’s energy independence.

  • Lisa Nandy – 2024 Speech at the Science and Industry Museum

    Lisa Nandy – 2024 Speech at the Science and Industry Museum

    The speech made by Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on 31 August 2024.

    From the England Football Team to our grassroots coaches, so many of you have told a different story and you have been a light on the hill in times of darkness.

    And you’ve reminded us that there is a better country out there.

    A few years ago I sat down with Danny Boyle, who hails from just down the road in Radcliffe. He says he’s from Bury, but he’s actually from Radcliffe.

    And I asked him how a country that could unite so decisively around the inspiring and inclusive story of the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony could descend so quickly into anger and polarisation and division.

    I asked him where has that country had gone.

    And he said simply, that it is still there. But it is waiting for someone to give voice to it again.

    And that is my firm belief that this country, as George Orwell said, lies beneath the surface.

    And it will be heard. Not out of some technocratic notion of fulfilling quotas, getting out of London, but because that voice has a spirit and energy our country desperately needs to hear.

    We are meeting here for a reason.

    Because this museum celebrates the industry, innovation, and enterprise of our people. The growing economy our country needs again. The contribution that regions like ours have made to our economy, our country and to the world.

    But most of all it tells the story of all the parts of our nation.

    It’s the story of the ordinary extraordinary people who contribute to the growth of our country, past and present. Who quietly in every community go out and build things that last and constantly, through their hard work, rewrite our national story.

    I spent many, many happy times here in this museum as a kid.

    And in turn have spent many happy times here with my little boy in recent years. Although he does want to know when the train section’s reopening.

    He has grown up knowing, as my generation did, that this is his museum, his

    inheritance – he belongs here, and this inheritance belongs to him.

    This museum, like so many of your institutions, help to shape and define us as we shape and define them. We pass them down from one generation to the next. And we neglect them at our cost.

    This museum is testament to the spirit of the city that has always believed in itself. And empowered the next generation to believe in itself anew; often despite the odds.

    It was just down the road in Salford that Engels wrote ‘The Condition of the Working Class’ in a city that was the driving force of the industrial revolution.

    That spirit lives on in my favourite museum – the People’s History Museum. It’s funded by the councils of Greater Manchester, and there’s a reason that we do. These are the councils who have always understood that the history of ordinary people and the ideas that drove them can not just help us not just to interpret the past, but can help us navigate the future.

    That museum reminds us that change doesn’t come easily. It took the battle of

    Peterloo to enfranchise the men who were building our country – and far too long before our women won that right too. But today I see that spirit at work right here amongst the amazing Mancunian women like Erinma Bell who leads the battle against the violence that scars a generation and shames our country and is a priority for our Government.

    This was the city that gave the world the first free library – the Central Reference Library – which stands as a shining testament to how much the mothers and fathers of this city not only believed in our people, but cherished our culture.

    And I grew up here in the aftermath of the Moss Side Riots and so it is in my DNA that never again can we be allowed to write off a generation of young people. It was that belief that led me into my first job at the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint – where I learnt everything I know about politics from those brave young people – and I feel them walking alongside me as we create a new generation of OnSide Youth Zones – from Wigan to Bolton – and show this generation that they matter to us again.

    From Granada TV and its pioneering journalism, whether the campaign to free the Birmingham Six to the persistent approach to telling the story of Hillsborough and achieving justice for the 96 – to today’s Manchester Evening News that has defied the odds to become one of the most groundbreaking papers in the country and reminds us all why local and regional papers matter so much.

    As the late great Tony Wilson said, “this is Manchester – we do things differently here”.

    That drive, that creativity, that inclusion, that willingness to do things differently. That is the spirit of our new Government.

    I hope you can see and feel it already through the curriculum review we’ve initiated to put creative and sports opportunities back at the heart of a richer, larger life for every single child.

    I hope you can see it through our investment in grassroots sport and our determination that the legacy of the Paris Olympics and Euro 2024 is measured not just in trophies and medals but in choices and chances for every child wherever they live and whatever their background.

    Through our partnerships with our mayors, councils, businesses and charities, we’re putting rocket boosters under our growing industries – film and theatre, TV, fashion, video games, heritage and tourism – to take the brakes off the economy, create opportunity for every child and to export our incredible talent across the world.

    And through my drive to ensure the public appointments that we make truly reflect our country in all its glorious diversity. Not to fulfil a quota, but to ensure that our government draws on the creative might of all of our people.

    This is the spirit this city has always embodied.

    And this is the country that we can be.

    When we turn to face the nation again in five years’ time, it is our ambition that we will face a self-confident country, at ease with itself, where all of our people see themselves in the story we tell ourselves about ourselves as a nation – their contribution seen and valued.

    And that work will be the privilege of my life.

    But it’s work that belongs neither to me nor to this Government but to each of us. Equal citizens, ordinary people, but each one of us with an extraordinary contribution to make.

    I will not pretend it is easy.

    But growing up here, with my background taught me that whatever people say – we can move mountains.

    And when I said I wanted to do this – our first national event in Manchester – they said you wouldn’t come.

    But you did.

    And my message to each and every one of you is that if you share that belief in our country. If you have that zest to make change. If you want to challenge us and are willing to be challenged in turn.

    Then I promise you. That we will walk alongside you. We will have your back. And we will give voice to the country many of us have believed in all our lifetime but never quite yet seen.

    As the great Mancunian band Take That once said:

    “We’ve come so far. And we hope for more.”

    The next chapter in our country’s story is about to be written. What it looks like – is up to us.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Tinubu of Nigeria [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Tinubu of Nigeria [July 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 July 2024.

    This afternoon the Prime Minister spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria [Wednesday 31 July 2024].

    The President congratulated the Prime Minister on his recent election victory, and the Prime Minister commended the President as Nigeria marks twenty-five years of unbroken democracy.

    The Prime Minister reflected on the important relationship between the UK and Nigeria, grounded in cooperation on trade and security as Commonwealth partners, with long-standing ties between our people.

    The leaders welcomed this moment as an opportunity to reset and strengthen this relationship, working closely together to drive economic growth and prosperity between our countries, including through the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Christodoulides of Cyprus [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President Christodoulides of Cyprus [July 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 July 2024.

    The Prime Minister spoke with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, this afternoon [Wednesday 31 July].

    The President warmly welcomed the Prime Minister’s reset with European and global partners. They agreed this also marked an important opportunity to deepen the invaluable relationship that the UK and Cyprus share, particularly on issues including regional security and migration.

    Turning to the situation in the Middle East, they shared concerns about further escalation following recent events, and emphasised the importance of their engagement in the region to ensure stability. The Prime Minister reinforced the need to maintain the security of our partners in the region.

    They agreed to meet in person at the soonest available opportunity.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President da Silva of Brazil [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Keir Starmer call with President da Silva of Brazil [July 2024]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 31 July 2024.

    The Prime Minister spoke with Brazilian President Lula da Silva this afternoon [31 July 2024].

    The President warmly welcomed the Prime Minister’s recent election victory, and the leaders discussed the close areas of collaboration between the UK and Brazil, including on climate and nature.

    The Prime Minister welcomed Brazil’s presidency of the G20 and its upcoming presidency of COP next year, and underscored the UK’s support for Brazil in its priorities to combat the global challenges of hunger, poverty and climate change.

    The leaders looked forward to deepening our strong bilateral relationship, ahead of the UK and Brazil celebrating 200 years of diplomatic relations next year.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Scottish secretary reacts to GDP for May 2024 and Q1 2024 [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Scottish secretary reacts to GDP for May 2024 and Q1 2024 [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 31 July 2024.

    Ian Murray says UK Government’s key mission is growing the economy, making work pay and creating jobs and opportunity for all parts of the UK.

    The latest Scottish GDP stats are published this morning here for the month of May and here for Q1 of 2024.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    Economic growth is one of the key missions of the UK Government. We inherited a dire fiscal situation, with a £22billion black hole in spending for this year alone that the previous government left us. It’s the worst economic inheritance of any incoming government since the Second World War and tough decisions will be required. That’s why the Chancellor is taking immediate action to achieve the economic stability vital for growth.

    The UK Government will rebuild and regrow. We are making work pay, ensuring the national minimum wage is a true living wage. And with the end of exploitative zero-hours contracts, workers will have increased job security. Backed by £8.3bn of UK Government investment, Scottish-based GB Energy will bring jobs and opportunity for all parts of the UK and trade talks have resumed globally to forge stronger links with our international business partners.

    Background

    Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.3% in May. This follows growth of 0.2% in April (revised from 0.0%).
    In the three months to May, GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.9% compared to the previous three-month period. This indicates an improvement in quarterly growth after the growth of 0.5% (revised from 0.7%) in 2024 Quarter 1 (January to March).

  • PRESS RELEASE : Significant measures to tackle worsening backlog in local audit [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Significant measures to tackle worsening backlog in local audit [July 2024]

    The press release issued the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 31 July 2024.

    Reforms announced to clear the significant backlog in the auditing of local bodies’ accounts in England.

    Significant measures to tackle a worsening backlog in local audit and restore transparency and accountability over how public money is spent across England have been announced.

    In a statement to the House of Commons, Minister of State Jim McMahon announced measures to tackle the significant inherited backlog in the auditing of councils and other local bodies’ accounts. Minister McMahon emphasised the government’s determined to take the tough choices to begin rebuilding the foundations of local government.

    It comes after only 1% of local bodies published audited accounts on time last year, with the backlog likely to increase to around 1,000 by the end of September. Without action, the backlog will continue to grow and continue to undermine local accountability and governance.

    Secondary legislation will be laid when parliamentary time allows to set a statutory backstop of 13 December 2024 for the publication of audited accounts for all financial years up-to-and-including 2022/23. This will clear the backlog and enable a focus on recent accounts to provide the most up-to-date information.

    Minister of State Jim McMahon said:

    We know how important local services are to our communities and how vital it is councils, and other local bodies, have the financial transparency needed to continue to deliver them.

    We inherited a broken local audit system. These proposals will tackle the immediate challenge of the backlog, but work is also underway to deliver our manifesto commitment to overhaul the system to ensure it is fit, legal and decent and works for everyone.

    Due to the time constraints, not all audits will be completed in full by the December backstop. Where this is case, auditors will issue ‘disclaimed’ or ‘modified’ audit opinions. Auditors are likely to issue hundreds of ‘disclaimed’ audit opinions and disclaimed opinions will likely continue for some bodies for a number of years. Local bodies should not be unfairly judged based on disclaimed or modified opinions, caused by the breakdown in the system and the introduction of backstop dates that are largely beyond their control.

    The proposals would also set backstops for the subsequent years up to 2028 to allow full assurance to be rebuilt over several audit cycles. The aspiration of the government and key local audit system partners is that the system recovers as early as possible within this period.

    And while there will be modified and disclaimed opinions, auditors’ other statutory duties – including to report on Value for Money (VfM) arrangements, to make statutory recommendations and issue Public Interest Reports – remain a high priority.

    There will be very limited and specific exemptions from the backstop dates and, where these apply, an explanation must be provided publicly, and audited accounts must still be published as soon as practicable.

    If any bodies fail to comply with a backstop date they would be required to publish an explanation, send a copy to the Secretary of State, and publish audited accounts as soon as practicable. The government also intends to publish a list of bodies and auditors that do not meet the proposed backstop dates.

    The measures will be supported by guidance to auditors issued by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and endorsed by the Financial Reporting Council.

    Communication and engagement with stakeholders will take place in the coming months to make clear the necessity of the steps and emphasise the context for disclaimed opinions. Finally, at the point the C&AG requests, a new Code of Audit Practice will be laid in Parliament.

    All key local audit organisations support these exceptional and bold measures, and understand that decisive action is needed to reset the system and repair the foundations of local government.

    Local authorities and other local bodies, alongside their auditors, are our partners in this plan to restore a system of high-quality and timely financial reporting and audit. The government commends the commitment of local finance teams and auditors in their work to date.

    The government intends to set out its longer-term plans to fix local audit this autumn.

    Notes to editors:

    The proposed backstop dates are:

    • Financial years up-to-and-including 2022/23: 13 December 2024
    • Financial year 2023/24: 28 February 2025
    • Financial year 2024/25: 27 February 2026
    • Financial year 2025/26: 31 January 2027
    • Financial year 2026/27: 30 November 2027
    • Financial year 2027/28: 30 November 2028
  • PRESS RELEASE : Housing targets increased to get Britain building again [July 2024]

    PRESS RELEASE : Housing targets increased to get Britain building again [July 2024]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 31 July 2024.

    The government has announced an overhaul of the planning system to fix the foundations and grow the economy.

    • Government to fix the foundations with an overhaul of the planning system that will see new mandatory targets for councils
    • Review of the greenbelt to identify ‘grey belt’ land and meet local housing needs, with ‘golden rules’ driving 50% delivery of affordable homes
    • New system will ensure every area must have local housing plans – with government ready to take the tough decisions to step in if areas fall off track

    An overhaul of the planning system has been announced today, as government sets out tough decisions necessary to fix the foundations and grow the economy.

    All councils in England are to be given new, mandatory housing targets to pave the way to deliver 1.5 million more homes – tackling the most acute housing crisis in living memory.

    The new targets will mean councils must boost housebuilding in areas most in need, helping more people buy their own homes, removing the largest barriers to economic growth, and getting Britain building again.

    The new rules set out today will reverse the decision last year to water down housing targets, by making them explicitly advisory, at a time when planning permissions were at a record low. The new approach reflects the level of ambition necessary to tackle the housing crisis and meet the government’s commitment to 1.5 million homes.

    Supporting the government’s number one mission to grow the economy across the country, these new targets will flow into the development of local plans. It is through local plans that communities have a say in the building of the homes and infrastructure we need.

    Currently just a third of councils have a plan that is under five years old, which is why government will take the tough decisions and step in where needed to drive progress, ensuring local areas get a say on how, but not if, homes are built.

    The Deputy Prime Minister has written to every council Leader and Chief Executive in England to make clear that there is “not just a professional responsibility but a moral obligation to see more homes built”, and that she will not hesitate to use her powers of intervention should it be necessary – including taking over an authority’s plan making directly.

    Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said:

    “Today marks a significant step to getting Britain building again.

    “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.

    “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.”

    In addition to restoring mandatory housing targets, the method used to calculate them, which relied on decade old data, will be updated. The new method will require councils to ensure homes are built in the right places and development is proportionate to the size of existing communities, while adding an extra level of ambition in the most unaffordable areas.

    The first port of call for development will be brownfield land. Reforms announced today will make explicit that the default answer to brownfield development should be “yes” and promote homebuilding at greater densities in urban centers, like towns and cities.

    To help deliver 1.5 million homes over the next five years, councils will have to review their green belt land if needed to meet their own target, identifying and prioritising ‘grey belt’ land, which the government has today set out a definition for. This includes land on the edge of existing settlements or roads, as well as old petrol stations and car parks.

    The update will make clear the requirement for councils to consider the proximity of new homes to existing transport infrastructure.

    Where local authorities do not have up-to-date plans in place or enable sufficient housing to come forward to meet local targets, homebuilders can bring forward proposals on grey belt land. In all cases, land that is safeguarded for environmental reasons will continue to be protected.

    Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to the government’s ‘golden rules’, which make clear that development should deliver 50% affordable homes, increase access to green spaces and put the necessary infrastructure is in place, such as schools and GP surgeries.

    Alongside building the housing that we need, the government is committed to making it easier to build key infrastructure such as laboratories, gigafactories and data centres, as well as making changes to deliver more large onshore wind projects and solar development across the country.

    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. The government has started its review of the increased discounts introduced in 2012, with changes to be implemented in the Autumn.

    The Deputy Prime Minister has also confirmed that details of future government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forward at the next spending review, so social housing providers can plan for the future and help deliver the biggest increase in affordable housebuilding in a generation.

    Responding to calls from the sector, the government has also confirmed that at the next fiscal event it will provide councils and housing associations with the rent stability they need to be able to borrow and invest in new and existing homes – while ensuring that there are appropriate protections for both existing and future social housing tenants.

    Further information

    • Later today the Housing Minister will be hosting a roundtable with the house building sector who have pledged their support for the plan. Today the Home Builders Federation has issued a statement on behalf of the industry backing the government’s plan and commitment to build 1.5 million homes.
    • The government will respond to the consultation and publish NPPF revisions before the end of the year, so policy changes can take effect as soon as possible.
    • These changes will be followed by further reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, through which we are confirming today we will introduce a national scheme of delegation that focuses planning committees on the applications that really matter, avoids a potential development being reviewed multiple times even where it’s been included in the local plan, and places more trust in skilled professional planners.
    • The government is also confirming its intention to introduce a universal system of strategic planning across England in this Parliament, underpinned by the necessary legislation, that will deliver on the manifesto commitment to plan for growth on a larger than local scale.
    • Government is doing more to support mixed use sites, which can comprise a variety of ownership and rental tenures including rented affordable housing and build to rent, and which provide a range of benefits – creating diverse communities and supporting timely build out rates.
    • Government is introducing new flexibilities in the Affordable Homes Programme for GLA to unlock delivery in London.
    • Government is increasing the flexibilities on how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts, which includes: removing the caps on the percentage of replacements delivered as acquisitions and the percentage cost of a replacement home that can be funded using these receipts, and giving councils the ability to combine Right to Buy receipts with section 106 contributions, with these flexibilities in place for an initial 2 years and subject to review.
    • Government will review Right to Buy more widely, which includes looking at eligibility criteria and protections for new homes, and will bring forward a consultation in the autumn.
    • Government is confirming that the third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund will be going ahead, with £450m to councils to acquire and create homes for families at risk of homelessness.
    • Government is also confirming that Awaab’s Law will be introduced into the social rented sector, with more detail and secondary legislation to implement this in due course.
    • The consultation includes some proposals to reform the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) regime. This is a first step and further proposals will be brought forward in due course.

    Stakeholders

    Neil Jefferson , CEO, Home Builders Federation

    “Today represents the first and most important step ministers have taken in addressing the barriers to delivering new homes. The scale of the government’s housing ambition has given hope to the house building industry that stands ready to increase supply and tackle the country’s housing shortage. The planning system has long failed to provide the amount of land needed to address affordability pressures, but in recent years the elimination of housing targets has led to housing supply plummeting. A reformed, more progressive planning system that requires local authorities to meet their communities’ housing needs is a major step forward to address the barriers to delivery.

    The housing market is complex and bringing more land through the planning system will help to turn around ailing housing supply provided affordable mortgage finance can be accessed and buyers are able to purchase new homes.”

    Victoria Hills, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute

    “The proposed changes to our planning system outlined today have the potential to rebuild trust in our planning system. We believe that the government’s goals for housing, energy, and transport can be accomplished through collaboration with planners in both the public and private sectors.

    It is particularly encouraging to see the government placing a much-needed emphasis on strategic planning, which can help deliver more coherent – not piecemeal – urban expansions by integrating new housing with transportation, energy, and public services.

    The RTPI will begin consulting our members widely across England immediately to guide our response to the government on these and other important reforms.”

    Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter

    “The Deputy Prime Minister is absolutely right to put the delivery of new social homes at the heart of her plans. Every year we lose more social rent homes through sales and demolitions than we build, so the government’s commitment to reversing this could effectively mean doubling the supply of social homes in a year.

    The decision to set a clear expectation and target on social rent homes at a local level lays the foundation for councils and developers to deliver the housing communities so desperately need.  We now need to ensure developers are delivering their fair share of genuinely affordable social homes, and not dodging their commitments.

    The government’s ambition must keep growing until it hits the 90,000 social homes a year that are necessary to end homelessness and relieve the extreme pressure on private renting. Building 90,000 social homes would pay for themselves in just three years and return an impressive £37.8bn back to the economy, including through jobs, savings to the NHS and the benefits bill.”

    Muyiwa Oki, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects

    “Well thought through and fundamental reforms to our broken, backlogged planning system are to be welcomed.

    For too long, the system has been a barrier to quality development and contributed to our national housing shortfall.

    Much greater emphasis needs to be placed on design quality because, fundamentally, a poorly-designed, unattractive, unsustainable home serves nobody, not least future generations.

    A shake-up of our decrepit planning system will be vital to our housebuilding revolution.

    As architects, we now stand ready to act as a critical friend to government, to make sure we get these reforms right, to enable the design and delivery of the next generation of homes our country so desperately needs.”

    Kate Henderson, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation

    “It’s great to see the government place social and affordable housing at the heart of its plans for tackling the housing crisis.

    “We strongly welcome the government’s commitment to reintroducing more ambitious mandatory housing targets, recognising the importance of social rented homes, and to overhauling the planning system, which we have long been calling for.

    ”These changes are an important first step to increasing supply, and we agree with the Secretary of State that to reach the government’s target of 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, we must significantly increase the supply of social and affordable housing. With the social housing sector facing huge financial pressures due to decades of cuts and rising costs, this can only be achieved through long term funding to rebuild capacity that has been lost. Housing associations are ready to deliver these homes but can only do so with the right support.

    “We look forward to working with government on these changes as part of a nationally coordinated long term plan for housing, with funding at the next spending review, to deliver on our shared ambition to build a generation of new social homes.”

    Justin Young, Chief Executive, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

    “Securing the homes the UK requires, needs more than one solution, and it is encouraging to see many of them addressed today.

    Setting localised housing targets to ensure that what is needed is built in the right places and with the right infrastructure, and working with local authorities that know their areas better than anyone, will help secure the bold ambitions of Government as well as providing jobs and opportunities. Our professionals are at the heart of the built environment, including planning, development, construction, and cost management, and are ready and equipped to help push these changes forward.

    We have been calling for a greenbelt review, and applaud the introduction of clear, golden rules for grey belt. The proposed system of brown, grey, then green, should protect community spaces and secure needed but not unnecessary development.  Planning reforms are a pullable policy lever for boosting economic productivity, and legislation that increases housing delivery across tenures, including affordable housing, will move the dial for those in need. We also look forward to working with Government to secure the skills needed to make ambitions a reality”.

    Ann Carruthers, President of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT)

    “ADEPT welcomes the government’s recognition of the crucial role that the planning system, and planners, can play in delivering the homes, jobs and infrastructure that this country needs to fulfil its growth ambitions. We consider that a proactive, well-resourced planning system is vital to deliver successful sustainable places. We support the re-introduction of universal strategic planning and stand ready to work with the government to deliver the modernisation of the planning system, so that everyone has a warm, safe and affordable home.”

    Jan Bessell, Board Chair, National Infrastructure Planning Association

    “NIPA welcomes this early consultation by government, which will not only help implement its own agenda but also deal with issues that have been experienced with NSIP thresholds and project descriptions over the last few years in relation to water resources and energy generation infrastructure. NIPA looks forward to further infrastructure planning reform and innovation led by government, to facilitate the delivery of much needed national infrastructure and economic growth.”

    Andrew Carter, Chief Executive, Centre for Cities

    “The Government is right to put planning reform at the centre of its economic strategy.

    The UK’s cities have the potential to make a larger contribution to the national economy. Tackling the shortage of housing in and around these cities is a key step towards making them – and the country – more productive.

    Green belt reform in particular is welcome. The UK’s biggest cities are surrounded by green belts several times their size, constraining the supply of homes for people who live and work in these places.”

    Melanie Leech CBE, Chief Executive, British Property Federation

    “This is an ambitious package of measures, which will not only start to turn the tide on our housing crisis, but also inject some much-needed growth into our economy. We need a multi-tenure approach to tackle the housing crisis which sees social housing, homes for sale, and Build to Rent all firing on all cylinders. We are therefore particularly pleased to see that as part of the revised NPPF, Government will double down on encouraging and supporting all sectors to do their bit.”

    Paul Brocklehurst, Chairman, Land, Planning and Development Federation

    “The new Government campaigned on a mandate of reforming the planning system to enable the building of 1.5M new homes, to deliver the affordable homes we need, and to provide the employment space and infrastructure which is essential to boost our economy. Today, the measures that the Government are announcing are the first giant stride in the long walk to achieving that goal.  We, and all our members, welcome today’s announcement and will work positively, constructively and tirelessly with Government to ensure that the reforms announced today, and those that may come at a later date, enable the mission of boosting economic growth to be achieved.”

    Simon Carter, Chief Executive Officer, British Land

    “There is no silver bullet to solve the housing crisis and return the country to long-term sustainable economic growth. The government will need to deploy a range of tools to do this. The changes to national policy announced today are an important first step to put us back on the path to growth, combining targeted approach to Green Belt release, while reaffirming the presumption in favour of brownfield development, enabling viable development across a mix of tenures, and giving greater weight to critical infrastructure delivery in strategically important sectors, such as science and technology and renewables.

    As a business, we have consistently advocated for practical, deliverable planning reforms, to ensure faster, more reliable planning decisions, and welcome the other measures announced today to improve performance and decision-making and provide a more predictable planning service across the country.”

    Mark Allan, Chief Executive, Landsec

    “This is an extensive set of measures which tackle many of the issues we face within the planning system.

    “I am particularly pleased to see the increased focus on brownfield land and the recognition of the role mixed use and commercial development plays in driving economic growth and housing delivery.

    “It is now up to our industry and our partners in local government to rise to this challenge and maximise the opportunities presented by development. Not only by delivering homes and growth, but also by ensuring that growth works to unlock opportunities for people across the country.“

    Rob Perrins, Chief Executive, Berkeley Homes

    “Berkeley strongly supports the Government’s mission to build 1.5 million new homes and welcome the steps taken today to begin reform of the planning system.

    Ministers have challenged industry to do more and Berkeley is determined to play our full part. We have therefore today laid out plans for how we can start an additional 10,000 private and affordable homes over the next five years. These plans include accelerating work on our current long-term sites, securing new deliverable planning permissions, investing over £1 billion into a new 4,000 home Build to Rent programme, and returning to the land market having not bought a new site for more than 2½ years.

    As with the Government’s mission for housing this plan is ambitious but achievable. When all levels of government work in partnership with industry we can move at pace, and deliver more of the good green homes people need.”

    António Simões, Group CEO, Legal & General Plc.

    “We need a fit for purpose planning system to get the economy growing, and particularly to ensure that local communities have the homes, services, and infrastructure they need. This package of reforms is an opportunity to get millions of pounds worth of projects moving, with real world impact on housing quality and availability, infrastructure, and growth industries. It will also ensure that policies to drive pensions capital into productive assets have maximum benefit on the ground, and on savers’ returns.”

    Nigel Hugill, Chief Executive of Urban&Civic plc.

    “Recent experience is that setting clear targets for each Local Planning Authority is absolutely fundamental to lifting housing numbers.  Equally, the wholehearted embracing of a mix of tenures is also to be applauded. Accelerating residential delivery will require the full range of housing providers to contribute. In all instances, homes rent faster than they sell, so we have to harness more than just the major housebuilders.”

    Helen Gordon, Chief Executive, Grainger plc

    “It is positive to see the Labour Government hit the ground running with today’s housing and planning reform proposals which is an important first step in achieving their target of delivering 1.5m new homes. In particular, the emphasis of a multi-tenure approach, where councils will need to determine and plan for local housing need for home ownership, private rental and affordable homes, is very welcome. Today’s proposals will support our plans to develop over 5,000 new homes, and our ambitions to go well beyond this.”

    Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive, Get Living Plc

    “An effective and efficient planning system is absolutely critical to providing new high quality homes of all tenures and supporting vital infrastructure. For too long the planning system has been a drag on delivery, affecting both investor appetite and crippling supply in areas that desperately need new homes for sale and rent. The new Government has recognised this and wasted no time in putting forward solutions.

    “The country needs a simplified approach to planning that not only removes existing barriers but has an expanded understanding of the types of homes, neighbourhoods and infrastructure needed. We welcome the Government’s decision to make planning policy a priority and the revised NPPF will pave the way for the provision of the high-quality homes the country urgently needs to alleviate our current housing and rental crisis. A fit for purpose planning system will unlock investment, grow local economies and give people a choice of where to live.”

    Mark Allnutt, Executive Director – Europe, Greystar

    “As a major investor in UK residential property, we have long been supportive of measures to unlock the planning system, which are essential for economic growth and should provide certainty for institutional investors. Restoring housing targets and taking steps to increase land supply, while prioritising brownfield and ‘greybelt’ land for development, are important steps the Build to Rent Sector welcomes. We look forward to working with both the UK Government and local authorities to deliver the additional housing supply the country needs across a full range of housing tenures including affordable homes.”

    Charles Roe, Director of Mortgages, UK Finance

    “Everyone needs a safe, secure and affordable home so we welcome the government’s plans to get Britain Building, and the announcement of increased targets for affordable housing. This commitment will help reduce the UK’s shortfall of homes and get more people onto the housing ladder. Our mortgage members play a key role in helping people achieve their ambitions of home ownership. We look forward to continuing our work with lenders and government to help people and families buy their first or future home.”

    Michael Kiely, Chair of the Board, Planning Officers Society

    “The new Government has kept to its promise to revise the NPPF before the Summer recess. I am looking forward to reading what changes Angela and her team have made to enable the planning system to meet housing need and deliver economic growth through the creation of sustainable development.”