Weekly planning news

Homes England provisionally exceeds annual targets

The Government agency ‘Homes England’ has provisionally beaten three annual targets for 2024/2025.

Focused on homebuilding through new home starts, completions and potential homes unlocked, the high performance will play a key part in supporting the 1.5 million home target this parliament.

Figures show Homes England enabled more than 36,000 homes to be completed in 2024/25, an increase of 14% from the previous period. Home starts also rose 6%, with 38,000 homes being facilitated.

Looking forwards, land capable of delivering 79,000 homes was unlocked, promising consistent progress in future.

The agency is committing to a “more regionally-based model”, supporting house building and regeneration throughout the country.

Homes England’s annual report will be published this summer, confirming the data provided.

Report finds government’s new towns likely to cost £48 billion

A report published by WPI Strategy estimates that building twelve new towns across England will cost up to £480 billion. Each development on average will likely cost £3.5 to £4 billion.

The figures provided were based on towns delivering over 10,000 new homes per settlement. Totalling over 120,000 new homes over the course of the scheme, with 40% being affordable.

MHCLG’s press release¹ states that the figures are ‘extremely speculative’ as the locations for the new towns are yet to be announced.

Part of WPI Strategy’s report focused on the local support for the schemes, with Milton Keynes having the highest greatest backing, with 59.5%.

An independent New Towns Taskforce was established in 2024, with expectations being that locations are recommended within the coming 12 months. It is expected that up to twelve towns will be recommended, out of the 100 locations which expressed interest.

The full report is available at WPI Strategy.²

Key Takeaways from UKREiiF 2025

This year’s UKREiiF was nothing short of energising, bringing together leaders from across planning, development, and infrastructure to tackle the sector’s most pressing challenges. With housing high on the agenda and fresh insight shared on reform, innovation, and collaboration, the three-day event offered real momentum for change.

Signs of a Stimulated Housing Market

According to our latest Application Index, Q1 2025 has seen the highest number of new housing applications since 2022, a promising sign that the sector may be on the cusp of a housebuilding boom. With so many projects entering the pipeline, optimism is rising around the industry’s ability to meet growing demand.

A Spotlight on new towns

One of the most talked-about topics at the event was the government’s new town agenda. The Chair of the New Towns Taskforce shared their vision for a new wave of settlements - each expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes. These developments promise not only to help alleviate the housing shortage but to create distinctive, thriving communities that enrich the UK’s planning landscape.

The announcement of proposed locations, due later this year, is highly anticipated. If delivered as envisioned, these shovel-ready sites could signal a new era of strategic planning.

Collaboration as a catalyst

While collaboration is often name-checked in policy discussions, at UKREiiF it was clear that meaningful public-private partnerships will be essential if we’re to meet ambitious housing targets. Speakers repeatedly called for bold, sustained cooperation across sectors, with a focus on diversifying housing delivery - including build-to-rent, single-family homes, and genuinely affordable options.

Critically, long-term investment and policy stability were identified as key enablers to unlock progress at scale.

Support for planning reform

The industry appears unified in its call to ringfence new planning fee income for local authority planning departments. Attendees highlighted the urgent need to address staffing shortages and application backlogs that have long hindered delivery.

Government reforms around the role of planning committees- particularly their involvement in smaller housing schemes - also sparked debate, with many advocating for clearer guidance to streamline decisions without undermining local accountability.

Infrastructure and Devolution on the Move

On day two, the Transport and Infrastructure Minister addressed infrastructure reform, reinforcing a commitment to enabling faster delivery of major projects. This was echoed by Matthew Pennycook, who emphasised the growing role of devolution in shaping local decision-making. The message was clear: empowering communities to make strategic choices is fundamental to building a more responsive and effective planning system.

Final Word

This year’s UKREiiF left attendees with a sense of momentum and possibility. From planning reform and infrastructure investment to the promise of new towns and collaborative delivery models, the path ahead is challenging, but increasingly well-defined. With political will, clarity, and coordinated action, the next chapter in UK housebuilding could be one of bold, transformative growth.

1. https://mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2025/05/20/coverage-on-new-towns-costs/
2. https://www.wpi-strategy.com/new-towns-report