New analysis from Northumberland Labour reveals that the number of children in temporary accommodation in Northumberland soared a staggering 300% since Boris Johnson’s election victory in 2019.
The data comes as the Labour Government announces new plans to help build 1.5m new homes through the parliament. They include:
New powers for councils to keep housebuilders on track:
- New housebuilding timeframes must be set before planning permission is granted
- Developers who repeatedly fail to build out or use planning permissions to trade land speculatively could face new ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’ or be locked out of future permissions by councils
- Those deliberately sitting on vital land, without building the homes promised, could see their sites acquired by councils where there is a case in the public interest and stripped of future planning permissions
Government backing for local builders to get Britain building:
- Smaller housebuilders to benefit from simpler rules and faster decisions as full plans to modernise planning committees unveiled
- New reforms across land, regulation and finance backed by cash-boost to help SME housebuilders build the houses we need
This follows radical action to transform our planning system, and this all supports the government’s Plan for Change milestone of delivering 1.5 million homes, creating new jobs and driving economic growth in every region
Publishing the data, Northumberland Labour’s Leader Scott Dickinson said,
“Locally and across the country Labour is determined to build the homes we need to help bring the dream of homeownership back into reach for working people and to get children out of temporary accommodation and into a permanent home.
“We need new homes for local families in Northumberland, and we need them built as quickly as possible.
“After 14 years of chaos and incompetence Labour was never going to be able to turn this country round overnight, but measures like these – new powers for councils to keep housebuilders on track, and government backing for smaller housebuilders – are all part of getting Britain back on track fast, and building 1.5m new homes over the course of the parliament.
‘Families in Northumberland deserve just reward for working hard – that means fair pay and conditions at work, and safety and security at home. That’s the Britain we are trying to build.”
On plans to give councils new powers to keep housebuilders on track, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:
“This government has taken radical steps to overhaul the planning system to get Britain building again after years of inaction. In the name of delivering security for working people, we are backing the builders not the blockers. Now it’s time for developers to roll up their sleeves and play their part.
“We’re going even further to get the homes we need. No more sites with planning permission gathering dust for decades while a generation struggle to get on the housing ladder. Through our Plan for Change, we will deliver 1.5 million homes, fix the housing crisis and make the dream of home ownership a reality for working people.”
And on plans to back local housebuilder, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:
“Smaller housebuilders must be the bedrock of our Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes and fix the housing crisis we’ve inherited – and get working people on the housing ladder.
“For decades the status quo has failed them and it’s time to level the playing field.
“We’re taking urgent action to make the system simpler, fairer and more cost effective, so smaller housebuilders can play a crucial role in our journey to get Britain building.”
