The UK government's so-called "building acceleration package" is yet another attempt to paper over the cracks in a failing housing system pushed to the brink by ineptitude and overregulation. With housing and planning figures for England showing a sharp decline in applications and approvals—excluding London, where the slowdown is even more pronounced—it's clear that this government’s empty promises are failing the very people they claim to serve.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who only recently took office, dismisses the current planning system as "archaic," as if bureaucratic red tape is the main barrier, rather than Labour’s own policies that choke off development at every turn. The latest figures reveal a troubling 5% drop in applications between April and June 2025, with approvals stagnating at just 83% in London—the lowest on record. Instead of addressing the root causes of this stagnation, Reed's response is to “work closely” with London Mayor Sadiq Khan—a politician whose policies have only worsened the housing shortage—while promising an overhaul that amounts to little more than empty rhetoric.
The reality is that under Labour’s watch, housing permissions have plummeted to their lowest levels ever. In the same period, just 7,609 projects received planning consent—a stark 5% decline from the previous year. Factors such as rising costs, sluggish sales, and bureaucratic delays are making it increasingly difficult to build homes, especially in regions like London and the East Midlands where approvals have fallen by around 12%. Yet Labour continues to double down on their failed approach, blaming market conditions rather than acknowledging that their overregulation is to blame.
Reed claims that reforms will kickstart the "biggest era of house building" in history, but such promises ring hollow. The government’s focus remains on superficial tweaks rather than tackling the systemic issues of planning inertia and excessive regulation that hinder growth. Their failure to cut through red tape and obstacles means more families are left waiting in limbo, unable to secure affordable homes.
Meanwhile, opposition critics—like the Conservative shadow housing secretary—rightly blame Labour for the housing crisis, citing excessive taxation, bloated regulation, and poor economic management. Labour’s approach has long been a barrier to growth, and this latest announcement is just another sign of their inability to deliver real solutions.
In reality, only a radical shift towards less regulation and a commitment to cutting costs and delays will reverse this downward trend. These empty promises won’t build homes—only free-market reforms and decisive action can do that. As the housing crisis deepens, it’s clear that Labour’s policies have no place in solving it; the time for real change is long overdue.
Source: Noah Wire Services