The Government’s plan to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029 has suffered another blow with news that housebuilding actually fell.

There was a 6.3% drop in output of private homes in the three months to January, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal.

Build baby build

When Housing Secretary Steve Reed (pictured) was appointed in September he told civil servants his housing mantra would be “build baby build”.

Despite many warnings that the target was unrealistic Reed and his predecessor Angela Rayner were both adamant that it was achievable.

They admitted it was a ‘stretch target’, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as “ambitious”.

But they pointed to new measures to speed up the planning process and get more housing developments over the line, as evidence to support their claim.

Doubts remain

Emergency reforms to boost home building in London were agreed by Reed and Mayor Sadiq Khan, which relax the affordable housing and design rules.

Doubts remain though, and in November MPs on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee demanded ministers either publish detailed new homes plans immediately or make a statement to Parliament admitting they don’t know how many will actually be built.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook also admitted plans to build 1.5 million new homes would hit property prices.

He told the House of Commons the “best scenario” was a “levelling-off” in house price growth.

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