Angela Rayner promises to cut red-tape to get spades in ground for new homes

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will today promise to make it easier for smaller housebuilders to get spades in the ground.

It comes as the government aims to speed up new homes in the mission to build 1.5million new homes by the end of the decade. Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, will outline plans to boost smaller developers with faster planning decisions and less red-tape.

As part of the proposals it is expected planning decisions for these projects will be shifted away from councillors and towards expert officers. The government said it will ensure councillors "focus on the most significant proposals and larger developments rather than small-scale projects or niche technical details".

The Ministry of Housing said under the current onerous system a small site of 10 homes has to jump through the same planning hurdles as with one with more than 100.

Ms Rayner said: "Smaller house builders must be the bedrock of our Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes and fix the housing crisis we've inherited - and get working people on the housing ladder.

"For decades the status quo has failed them and it's time to level the playing field. Today we're taking urgent action to make the system simpler, fairer and more cost effective, so smaller housebuilders can play a crucial role in our journey to get Britain building."

Over the weekend who fail to build promised homes could have their land seized or face fines. Under the plans councils will be given new powers to take control of developments left gathering dust to ramp up pressure to get homes built.

Developers who leave sites unfinished for years or get planning permission just to sell the land to the highest bidder will also be forced to pay hefty fines to local authorities per unbuilt home, based on the council tax that would have been paid.

And offenders could be blocked from getting future planning permissions, under the new plans. For the first time, housebuilders will also have to commit to deadlines before they get planning permission, and keep town halls updated each year on their progress.

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