The government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes is at risk, with Housing Secretary Rayner saying there is only a “slim chance” the target will be achieved.
The warning concerns a central manifesto commitment on housebuilding. According to the housing secretary, rising construction costs are among the factors threatening the delivery of the target.
Rayner also pointed to the war involving Iran as a further pressure on the pledge. The source material does not set out how the conflict is affecting the housing programme, but the comments link the international situation with broader pressures on construction and delivery.
The target of 1.5 million new homes is a major test for the government’s housing agenda. If missed, it would raise questions about the administration’s ability to meet one of its most prominent commitments on supply.
The latest position is that the housing secretary has publicly acknowledged the scale of the challenge and the limited prospect of hitting the figure, citing costs and the Iran war as threats to the plan.
