Rayner to push to ‘turn the tide’ on housing crisis amid bid to build 1.5m homes

Angela Rayner will push for a “new wave” of homes to “turn the tide” on the crisis when she brings together the country’s biggest housebuilders, councils and housing chiefs next week.

The Housing Secretary will convene the first national housing delivery board on Tuesday with a view to looking at where building standards and regulations as well as the planning system are slowing down efforts to build.

Ms Rayner has previously acknowledged there is a “slim chance” Labour will meet its target of building 1.5 million homes in England by the next election but has said she is not giving up on it.

Turbulence from the Iran war and rising construction costs have also presented challenges to the plans, but the Government hopes more than 400 new planning officers will help to speed up decision making.

Ms Rayner told the Press Association: “We all know the scale of the housing crisis and the consequences for families denied the security of a safe and affordable home.

“I’ve made it my priority to back a new wave of social, council, and affordable housing and help those who can’t rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad to buy their own home.

“Now I’m bringing councils, government, and industry together through the country’s first national housing delivery board.”

The board will bring together the Home Builders Federation, Construction Leadership Council and Peabody, with the Building Safety Regulator, Homes England as well as housing associations, councils and mayors.

Ms Rayner said: “By getting the people who plan, fund and build our homes around one table, we can focus on cutting delays and the remaining blockages holding back housebuilding.

“With new housing starts already up 20% compared to this time last year, our bold reforms are working but there’s much more to do.

“I want to see action, targets, and promises delivered.

“We know the demand is there, we have rewritten the rule book, now it’s time to get on with the job and build.

“We will turn the tide on the housing crisis and I’m determined we use every lever to get this country building and give families the safe, secure and affordable homes they deserve.”

Published: 11/11/2026 by Radio NewsHub