UKREiiF Highlights: Angela Rayner’s Bold Vision for the Future of UK Housing
Forth Action Invest on May 21, 2025
This week at UKREiiF in Leeds, Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner delivered one of the most talked-about speeches of the conference—laying out her party’s ambitious housing vision with a clear message: it’s time to build, build, build.
For investors, developers, and landlords, here’s what matters most.
1. A National Mission to Build 1.5 Million Homes
Rayner confirmed Labour’s goal to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next Parliament. That’s not just a headline—it’s a signal of intent. The message to housebuilders and the wider industry is clear: if Labour wins, expect planning reform and political pressure to accelerate delivery.
2. A Shift from Volume to Value
This isn’t just a numbers game. Rayner spoke passionately about homes being “safe, warm, and affordable”—underscoring Labour’s commitment to design quality, community infrastructure, and affordability.
That means more than just houses—it means developments with GPs, schools, transport links, and green space.
3. Major Planning Reforms on the Table
A new planning framework is on the horizon. Key changes include:
-
Reinstating local housing targets
-
Unlocking brownfield sites
-
Launching a New Homes Accelerator to bring stalled sites back to life
Local authorities will be encouraged (and resourced) to approve developments faster—cutting through one of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks.
4. Billions Committed to Back the Vision
Labour’s plans come with real financial firepower:
-
£3 billion pledged for SME builders and build-to-rent schemes
-
£800 million extra for affordable housing in the near term
-
£2 billion more promised next year to maintain momentum
For developers, this opens up potential new routes to funding and public-private partnerships.
5. Power to the Regions
Expect a devolution revolution. Rayner made it clear that mayors and combined authorities will get greater control over planning and housing investment.
Pilot schemes in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and the Midlands will be closely watched—and may become blueprints for a national rollout.
6. Solving the Skills Shortage
Labour plans to:
-
Train 100,000 construction workers a year
-
Recruit 60,000 new industry workers by 2029
-
Hire 300 more planners in local authorities
-
Let councils retain planning fees to reinvest in staff and systems
This is crucial to ensure the industry has the capacity to meet housing targets.
7. The Takeaway: A New Era of Growth?
Rayner framed housing as a pillar of national renewal—echoing the spirit of post-war reconstruction. For property professionals, this is a call to prepare. If Labour takes power, they’ll be looking to unlock land, accelerate approvals, and build at scale.
It’s not just policy—it’s a mindset shift. And it’s one we all need to be ready for.
Want to understand what this could mean for your development plans or portfolio?
We’re already advising clients on how to align with these potential policy changes. [Get in touch] to chat strategy.