WATCH: Campaign begins for local authority controlled housing policy

‘The UK is in dire need of new homes…  but not just any old homes… fit for the future, which means much better energy performance.’

Journalist and presenter Kevin McCloud has joined forces with the Good Law Project to launch a new campaign aiming to see housing policy placed in the hands of local authorities. 

At the time of writing, 4,000 people have contacted Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, calling for reform on housebuilding and more action on green homes. Meanwhile, Good Law Project is also involved in a joint legal challenge against new guidance for housing development, alongside Rights Community Action, . 

‘It makes absolute sense that local authorities should be able to impose better standards on builders and developers when it comes to delivering new housing,’ said McCloud. ‘But here’s the rub – central government has put barriers in place by restricting [councils] from doing anything that exceeds national policy.

‘The national policy in itself just isn’t up to scratch, and the irony here is that by limiting local authorities central government is, in effect, hampering its own climate pledges,’ he continued. ‘Sustainability isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Which is why the Good Law Project is partnering with Rights Community Action to change policy and hand back control to local authorities. So let’s not miss the opportunity to build better, greener homes… join the campaign.’

The relationship between Downing Street, city, borough, and district councils is often cited as a major obstacle to better action on sustainability and climate change. Earlier this month, Environment Journal published a feature on what Westminster should be doing to help local authorities with energy efficiency challenges. Meanwhile, in January we heard from a councillor on the impact of short-term funding cycles on regional and local environmental projects.

The UK is in dire need of new homes – Kevin McCloud – YouTube