Third of councils failing to build enough homes for local people

More than 100 local authorities fail government’s ‘housing delivery test’, with shortfall totalling more than 60,000 homes

Almost a third of councils in England have failed a new government test of whether they are building enough new homes for local people.

New analysis reveals that Conservative councils were the worst culprits, with 35 per cent having failed ministers’ “housing delivery test” – including housing secretary’s James Brokenshire own local authority.

Many Labour councils also failed to build enough homes, with 29 per cent not meeting targets, as did 33 per cent of those under no overall control. Four of the 12 Liberal Democrat-controlled councils (33 per cent) also fell short.

The figures are the first to show how many councils have failed the government’s housing delivery test, which was introduced last year.

The results are likely to fuel concerns that cash-strapped councils are struggling to cope with growing demand for new housing.

While 219 councils met their target, 107 did not, with their combined shortfall totalling almost 64,000 homes – equating to a 30 per cent shortfall across the 107 councils.

Under new government rules, councils face a series of penalties if they fail to the build the number of new homes that local people need.

Those that are only narrowly missing their target have to publish an action plan outlining how they will bridge the gap in future. 21 councils will now have to do this.

Councils with a bigger shortfall have to make 20 per cent more land available for housing, and those with the biggest gap between demand and supply have to introduce a policy of granting planning permission for new housing by default, unless they can show that it will be highly damaging to the local area.

Temporary allowances mean none will currently face the most severe penalty, but 86 will now be forced to introduce the 20 per cent of land “buffer”.

Analysis by Labour revealed that Mr Brokenshire’s local council, Bexley, had a shortfall of 11 per cent, while Basingstoke and Deane council, which includes most of housing minister Kit Malthouse’s constituency, had a 24 per cent deficit.

John Healey MP, Labour's shadow housing secretary, said: “The government’s own housing delivery test confirms that Labour in local government delivers more homes for local people. After nine years of failure on housing right across the country, Conservative-controlled councils are too often a roadblock to building the new homes communities need.

“With the Tories in Westminster, the best hope for people worried about housing pressures in their area is a vote for Labour in the local elections on 2 May.”