U.K. government faces battle to build on the “grey belt”

The new U.K. government will struggle to build on the so-called grey belt in England and reach its target of building 1.5 million new homes in the country over five years if it does not earn the trust and buy-in of local communities.

Daniel Austin, CEO and co-founder of ASK Partners, the U.K. specialist property lender, says local resistance to new construction may scupper plans to develop new residential stock across England, particularly if new residential developments are not accompanied by corresponding infrastructure upgrades.

“[The Labor government] must engage communities directly, balancing national housing needs with local concerns,” said Austin. “The goal is not just to increase the housing supply but to create well-rounded communities equipped with essential infrastructure, such as schools, healthcare facilities and transport links.”

Plans to rapidly increase the housing stock in the United Kingdom rest on the success or failure of the governm