Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
1.5 million new homes and net zero by 2050: can the Government do both?
A safe, secure and affordable place to live is the foundation of a healthy and prosperous life. But the UK is facing an acute shortage of homes. What is to be done, and how do we ensure environmental targets are still delivered? The latest episode of Committee Corridor, the podcast from Select Committees at the House of Commons, considers the housing crisis.
Ahead of the Spending Review on 11 June 2025, host Toby Perkins MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, asked how the UK can build enough homes, ensuring they are both of high enough quality and contribute to meeting environmental and nature goals.
Toby spoke to Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF) which represents housing associations. She sets out the scale of priorities facing the sector; how buildings need to adapt to climate changes by improving energy efficiency and the sector’s commitment to improving the condition of quality and safety of residents’ homes.
In April, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee urged Government to tackle the crisis in temporary accommodation, which has left record numbers of children without a permanent home. HCLG Committee Member and Labour MP, Joe Powell, outlines the Committee’s recommendations, stressing the need to increase the supply of social and genuinely affordable housing.
Could it come from ‘grey belt’ land? The House of Lords Built Environment Committee has considered the Government’s proposals to use previously developed land for potential housing developments. The Committee’s inquiry was chaired by the Conservative Peer Lord Moylan, who sets out concerns about the clarity of proposed planning reforms.
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Links:
Find out more about the Committee Corridor podcast: https://www.parliament.uk/business/commons/committee-corridor-podcast/
The work on ‘Grey Belt ‘policy from the House of Lords Built Environment Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/518/built-environment-committee/news/205110/grey-belt-policy-having-only-a-marginal-impact-at-best/
Temporary accommodation – Read the HCLG Committee report and Government Response: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/17/housing-communities-and-local-government-committee/news/207680/children-in-temporary-accommodation-governments-response-disappointingly-lacking-in-detail-says-committee-chair/
Find out more about the National Housing Federation: https://www.housing.org.uk/about-us/
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Chapters:
00:00:00 – Welcome
00:01:59 – Kate Henderson
00:23:15 – Joe Powell MP and Lord Moylan