The government’s New Homes Accelerator programme is set to expand, aiming to speed up construction on sites currently facing delays. Over 125,000 homes are expected to be built through the initiative.
The Housing Secretary has invited developers, landowners, and local authorities to submit additional sites that may require government support.
For the first time, the programme will include smaller sites of fewer than 500 homes, with a focus on increasing housebuilding in London and delivering homes within this Parliament.
Now in its second phase, the New Homes Accelerator has involved planning experts to support sites across the country and worked with statutory consultees and other government departments on issues affecting specific sites. These efforts have contributed to progress on more than 48,500 homes.
Additional work on infrastructure delivery, including schools, GP facilities, and energy solutions, has helped resolve issues affecting a further 76,500 homes.
Seven new sites are joining the programme, adding more than 11,400 homes in priority growth areas, including several in the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor, such as sites in Bicester and Bedfordshire.
The programme forms part of wider government housing reforms intended to increase the pace of housebuilding and address ongoing housing supply challenges.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “The number of families and young people locked out of the dream of home ownership is unacceptable so we are doing everything we can to make that dream come true.
“We’re stripping away the barriers blocking new homes being built and our New Homes Accelerator means 125,000 will now go ahead. But we’re just getting started.
“This next phase will see spades in the ground even faster as we build the 1.5 million homes this country needs.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves added: “The New Homes Accelerator is our growth mission in action – removing obstacles, restoring confidence and turning stalled plans into real investment on the ground – from pioneering sites in Oxford to the Cambridge Growth Corridor to new developments in the Northern Growth Corridor.
“This programme supports jobs across the country and helps more people find a secure, good‑quality home – building an economy that works for working people.”
As part of Phase 2, operations in London will be expanded through the launch of ‘NHA LDN’ and a new planning support service for boroughs, ‘ATLAS LDN’, both led by the Greater London Authority (GLA) on behalf of the Mayor of London.
The programme provides developers, housing associations, and boroughs with coordinated government-backed support to address barriers to delivery, including planning, infrastructure, and regulatory challenges.
The GLA will coordinate with developers, London boroughs, and other bodies, including Transport for London, to progress stalled sites. Three housing sites in London are already receiving support through NHA to accelerate delivery, while ATLAS LDN offers independent planning advice and reviews for local authorities.
Working with the government and Homes England, the services are aimed at advancing sites facing delays, with the goal of delivering new homes by the end of this Parliament.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I welcome phase two of the government’s New Homes Accelerator Programme. Working with government, Homes England and councils, City Hall is helping to unblock sites and accelerate the delivery of thousands of new homes for Londoners.
“This programme will get homes built faster and supports our urgent action to tackle London’s housing crisis as we build a better, fairer London for everyone.”