Housing Secretary says meeting 1.5 million-home goal remains unlikely

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner admitted that achieving the Labour pledge of 1.5 million new homes in England by the next election is a slim prospect, citing headwinds like the Iran conflict and soaring building costs. She stressed that the government is still committing billions to social and affordable housing and will not drop the target, describing it as a “stretch” but necessary goal. Construction data through March indicate one outlet pace falls short of the 300,000 homes per year required to meet the deadline of summer 2029.

Rayner pointed to a 15% rise in home starts last year as evidence of progress. Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised the largest post-war council-house building programme, while previous housing minister Steve Reed warned a sharp surge would be needed. Analysts note that planning reforms and green-belt changes could help long-term, but high house prices, labour shortages, and global conflicts continue to constrain the sector.