New Homes: Target

Lord Spellar Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

We need to take particular care to make sure that we use all the mechanisms to deliver some of the very specialised housing that the right reverend Prelate refers to. Some of those local trusts know exactly what is needed for their local communities. They do a fantastic job, and my Government want to support them through the funding that we are providing, as well as through any supporting measures in the planning reforms that we are bringing forward.

[Lord Spellar (Lab)]

My Lords, is not a fundamental constraint on achieving construction output the depleted and ageing workforce in the building industry? Does that not therefore necessitate an expansion of off-site fabrication? That requires long-term planning, long-term financing and a regular flow of orders to be efficient. Will that not ultimately lead to a major council house building programme?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

The funding in the £39 billion programme will see a great increase in the building of council homes, as will the ability of councils to use that funding as top-up funding for the 100% of receipts they can now keep from right-to-buy sales. My noble friend makes a good point on modern methods of construction. We need to boost their use. They are critical to improving productivity in the construction sector, delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes more quickly, and creating new and diverse jobs in the sector.