The Conservative Party’s housing policy for the upcoming UK election focuses on increasing homeownership, supporting renters, and addressing the housing supply shortage. Key elements of their policy include:
- Building New Homes: The Conservatives have set a target to build 300,000 new homes per year by the mid-2020s. This includes a mix of affordable housing, private homes, and social housing. They plan to simplify the planning process to accelerate the construction of new homes.
- Homeownership Initiatives: To help more people own their homes, the Conservatives propose expanding homeownership schemes such as the Help to Buy program. They also plan to introduce new initiatives like First Homes, which would provide homes for first-time buyers at a discount of at least 30% off the market price.
- Brownfield Development: The party emphasizes the importance of building on brownfield sites to protect green spaces. They propose prioritizing the development of unused and previously developed land to meet housing needs.
- Affordable Housing: The Conservatives aim to deliver more affordable housing by encouraging the development of social and affordable rental homes. They plan to provide local authorities and housing associations with greater funding and support to build these homes.
- Support for Renters: The party has pledged to enhance protections for renters by abolishing Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, giving tenants more security in their homes. They also aim to introduce lifetime deposits, allowing tenants to transfer their deposit from one rental property to another.
- Planning Reforms: The Conservatives plan to reform the planning system to make it more efficient and responsive to local needs. This includes streamlining the process for approving new developments and ensuring that local plans are up to date and reflect community needs.
- Investment in Infrastructure: To support new housing developments, the Conservatives propose significant investment in infrastructure, such as roads, schools, and healthcare facilities. This aims to ensure that new homes are built in well-serviced areas.
- Support for Local Authorities: The policy includes measures to give local authorities more power and resources to address housing needs in their areas. This includes funding for councils to build more homes and regenerate urban areas.
- Green Housing: The Conservatives plan to promote environmentally sustainable housing by encouraging the construction of energy-efficient homes and retrofitting existing properties. They aim to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in the housing sector.
- Regeneration of Towns and Cities: The party intends to focus on regenerating towns and cities, bringing empty homes back into use and revitalizing high streets. This includes support for community-led housing projects and local regeneration initiatives.
The Conservative Party’s housing policy is designed to increase the supply of new homes, support homeownership, improve rental conditions, and ensure that housing development is sustainable and meets the needs of communities across the UK.