Labour Party conference: building the homes of the future
Researcher
Yesterday at Labour Party Conference we brought together industry professionals and policy experts for a private roundtable discussion with Antonia Bance MP about the Government’s housing ambitions.
Kindly supported by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), we had a fantastic conversation about the progress made – and the challenges which still exist – since our discussion with Sarah Jones MP at last year’s Labour Party Conference on the same subject. Three key points stood out to me.
- Collaboration and innovation
There was broad consensus that accelerating housing delivery – and keeping it high on the political agenda – demands sustained cross-sector collaboration and innovation. Business-as-usual is not enough. Options discussed included greater adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC) and widening participation across the supply chain, including targeted support for SME builders. In the public sector the continued importance of the duty to cooperate was underlined, recognising that neighbouring councils often have distinct but complementary needs and supplies. The vital role Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) can play in preparing Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs) – guiding development across their geographies – was also highlighted.
- Establishing a pipeline
The skills shortage is a binding constraint on the housing sector. Indeed, this shortage is predicted to get worse, with tens of thousands of additional workers projected to be needed by 2029. Participants welcomed recent government steps but stressed that training today still involves an inevitable lag before entrants can meaningfully contribute. Rather than cyclical surges and slowdowns the sector needs a predictable timeline so that firms can invest in people with confidence.
- Maintaining appropriate standards
Balancing quantity with quality was a central theme. While standards must be upheld, some participants cautioned against everythingism and regulatory gold-plating diverting focus away from the core objective of increasing housing supply. Making more intelligent use of data and adopting standards which treat the home as a whole, rather than layering multiple component-level rules, were two discussed routes for delivering at pace without compromising quality. In parallel, participants noted potential actions across the full housing life cycle – for example retrofitting and targeted maintenance – which could expand housing availability alongside new construction.
Fundamentally, planning and regulation should function as enablers, not blockers – providing clarity and certainty so that developers can act with confidence. This must be embedded within a placemaking approach to ensure accelerated delivery produces well-designed, sustainable and liveable communities.