The most searched questions about Steve Reed — answered with data.
Why is the 1.5 million homes target so far off track?
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The government's target of 1.5 million homes by 2029 requires approximately 300,000 completions per year. In 2025/26, only 164,000 homes were completed — 45% of the annual target. The planning reform legislation was delayed 14 months, and council planning departments remain chronically understaffed. Housebuilder land acquisition costs have risen 18% since 2024 as mandatory affordable housing quotas increased. Without a fundamental acceleration in planning approvals and starts, the target is mathematically unachievable.
Why is council tax rising faster than inflation?
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Council tax increased by an average of 6.7% in 2026/27, against a government guideline of 5%. Local authorities are facing a perfect storm: rising public sector pay settlements (5.5%), growing demand for adult social care, and real-terms cuts to the Local Government Finance Settlement. Over 40 councils have issued or are close to issuing Section 114 notices (effective bankruptcy). Council tax is one of the few revenue levers local authorities control, leading many to raise the maximum permitted amount.
What happened to the cladding remediation promise?
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Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, successive governments promised to fund the removal of dangerous cladding from all residential high-rises. By May 2026, 3,200 buildings still await remediation and the Building Safety Fund — originally capped at £5.1bn — has been exhausted. An estimated 2 million residents remain at risk. The new Building Safety Levy, which adds costs to new developments, is intended to raise further funding but faces legal challenges from major housebuilders and will not fully fund the outstanding works.
How does the planning reform affect housing costs?
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The Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to streamline the development approval process, reducing major decisions from 22 weeks to 13 weeks. However, implementation has been slower than anticipated. Planning appeal costs for refused or delayed permissions have risen 31% since 2024, increasing development costs that are ultimately passed on to buyers and renters. The reform also introduces a new Infrastructure Levy to replace Section 106 agreements — but critics argue it reduces the proportion of affordable housing that developers must deliver per scheme.
What is the Building Safety Levy and who pays it?
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The Building Safety Levy is a new charge on residential developments above five storeys, introduced to fund ongoing cladding remediation work. In 2025/26 it raised £0.4bn; by 2026/27 it is expected to raise £1.2bn. Developers pay the levy at the point of construction, but economists argue the cost is largely passed through to new-build buyers via higher purchase prices — or to all households via reduced housing supply. The levy applies across England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate funding arrangements.