Sir Keir Starmer stated that Labour would grant English councils more authority to construct green belt land to increase housing.
The Labour Party leader pledged to make “tough decisions” and assist “the builders, not the blockers.”
However, he stated that construction would only occur where it would not “impact the natural beauty of our countryside.”
In addition, he promised to restore local housing objectives that have been weakened in response to calls from Conservative lawmakers.
Because the parking lot was technically in the green belt, Sir Keir suggested building houses on a playing field instead.
“We would make those difficult decisions and say to local areas, even if it’s greenbelt if it’s a car park or similar land that doesn’t affect the natural beauty of our countryside, then we’ll change the planning rules and give you the authority to do so,” he said.
Under the current planning regulations in England, only in exceptional cases can new structures be constructed on green belt land.
Sir Keir will argue in a later speech to the British Chambers of Commerce that the current planning system and barriers to construction are impeding economic development and keeping the economy “stuck in second gear.”
The leader of the Labour Party accused the government of “total failure in terms of housebuilding.”
He added that the government’s intentions to water down local housing targets would “put an end to the dream of homeownership for a great number of people across the country.”
By the middle of the 2020s, the 2019 Conservative manifesto pledged to construct 300,000 dwellings annually in England.
In December, however, the government announced that councils would be granted greater flexibility in meeting centrally set housing need targets.
Conservative lawmakers who opposed the targets argued that they undermined the authority of local governments to determine where construction occurs.
Others, however, have expressed concern that the alterations will reduce home construction.
Some Labour MPs have also opposed developments in their respective constituencies.
