Slim chance UK government will hit 1.5m homes target, Rayner says
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has told the BBC there is only a slim chance the government will meet its target of building 1.5m homes in England.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Angela Rayner admits slim chance of meeting the 1.5m homes target
- Data up to June shows construction rate lagging behind goals
- Government needs an average of 300,000 new properties built yearly
- High costs, labour shortages, and house prices hinder progress
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has told the BBC that there is only a slim chance the government will achieve its target of building 1.5 million homes across England before the next election. The Labour Party previously pledged to reach this goal by constructing a mix of private and social housing before the end of the current parliamentary term, which sets the deadline for summer 2029 at the latest.
This commitment implies an average of 300,000 new properties must be delivered each year, a pace of construction that has not been witnessed in decades. Data compiled up to June of this year indicates that the administration is currently falling behind the necessary construction rate, a shortfall that housebuilders had previously warned was overly optimistic.
The 1.5 million homes target represents a crucial test for the Labour administration as housing affordability and availability remain severe challenges across the United Kingdom. While planning reforms introduced by Sir Keir Starmer's government aim to unlock green belt land and ease restrictions, structural economic headwinds continue to create significant hurdles for developers trying to scale up delivery.
Analysis by BBC Verify highlighted a decline in housing completions during Labour's initial year in office, continuing a downward trend that began under the previous Conservative government. Figures covering the 12-month period leading to June 2026 suggest that approximately 203,000 new dwellings were delivered in England, falling far short of the annual 300,000 requirement.
"There is only a slim chance the government will meet its target of building 1.5 million homes in England by the next election."
Angela Rayner
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Analysts have noted that reforms introduced by the administration should assist long-term construction growth by altering green belt development rules to expand available land. Nevertheless, critics argue that housebuilding continues to be constrained by several enduring obstacles:
- High house prices relative to average household incomes
- Elevated material costs driven by global conflicts
- Persistent labour shortages following Brexit
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
To track progress accurately, BBC Verify has utilized government data on Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). Because every newly constructed dwelling is legally required to possess an EPC, it serves as the most timely and reliable indicator of active home construction across the country.
Source: BBC Politics
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