Thousands of new homes will be made available on surplus public defence land as part of a new initiative to accelerate housing delivery and drive economic growth.

A newly formed taskforce will focus on removing barriers and speeding up the construction of homes for hardworking individuals and families. This comes alongside the creation of a pioneering Network Rail property company, which is set to deliver 40,000 homes and contribute to the construction of 1.5 million homes outlined in the Plan for Change.

The initiative aligns with the government's planning reforms, which are forecast to contribute approximately £6.2 billion to the UK economy, according to the OBR. These changes are expected to generate jobs, increase opportunities, and boost economic growth across various regions, bringing the Plan for Change to life.

Unused public land will be identified and developed through a cross-government collaboration. This effort aims to quickly put vacant public land to productive use by overcoming the obstacles that have slowed the delivery of housing. The initiative will explore new delivery models and establish collaborative agreements between the Ministry of Defence, Homes England, Network Rail, and other government bodies, with private sector involvement. The goal is to break ground sooner and deliver homes more quickly, making homeownership a reality for many.

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Additionally, a new property company will be created between Network Rail Property and London & Continental Railways to attract both public and private investment to develop brownfield sites. The company will begin operating later this year and has the potential to deliver 40,000 new homes over the next decade. Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the first four sites to be developed in Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "For too long, surplus government-owned sites have gone underused, but they are a huge untapped resource that could create opportunities for the next generation of homeowners.

"In contrast to the failed approach of the past, we are making the best use of public land to build the homes that families and our Armed Forces need, improving opportunities for homeownership and creating jobs across the country.

"The OBR has confirmed our planning reforms will result in housebuilding being at its highest in over 40 years – that won’t just bring jobs and economic growth, but also will give families the homes that they deserve, delivering on our Plan for Change."