New taskforce to be created to ‘accelerate’ house building in Northstowe
The Chancellor's made the announcement
Last updated 9th Jul 2024
A new taskforce will be created to ‘accelerate’ house building in Northstowe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said.
Rachel Reeves highlighted the town as one of four areas in the country where she wanted to “accelerate stalled housing sites”.
Ms Reeves made the announcement in her first speech since being appointed Chancellor after Labour won a majority in the general election last week.
Once completed the new town of Northstowe is expected to be made up of 10,000 homes.
The first phase of the development has seen over 1,000 of these homes being built so far.
In her speech yesterday, the Chancellor said “decisive reform” was “urgently” needed in the country’s planning system.
She said “too many important projects” were “getting tied up in years and years of red tape”.
Ms Reeves said the government will reform the national planning policies, and would give priority to energy projects.
She said: “Third, we will create a new taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites in our country, beginning with Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester Parkway, Northstowe and Langley Sutton Coldfield, representing more than 14,000 homes.”
Ms Reeves said the government will also support councils with 300 additional planning officers across the country.
Ian Sollom, the newly elected MP for the St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire constituency – which includes Northstowe – said he welcomed the announcement.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: “I welcome this commitment from government in supporting the creation of an attractive and high-quality town centre for Northstowe under an accelerated timescale.
“The history of the build-out of Northstowe has been marked by a failure to deliver the required infrastructure alongside the construction of the much-needed new homes.
“I have long been campaigning for the investment in GP surgeries and community facilities to be brought forward.
“I look forward to working closely with the new government and with South Cambridgeshire District Council to ensure that Northstowe becomes an amazing place for all its residents, current and future.”