Story perspectives

Burnham, Rayner Call 1.5 M-Home Pledge Hard

7/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner called the 1.5 million-home pledge a “difficult” challenge.
Rayner likened the target to marathon, noting it needs 300,000 homes but only 208,600 were built in 2024/25, a 6 percent drop.
Since July 2024 the government added 392,400 homes, roughly two-thirds of the rate required by 2029.
A £16 billion Housing Bank will fund infrastructure, with Rayner ruling out rent freezes, citing the Renters’ Rights Act.

History

Historical Context

The post-war housing surge began with Attlee’s New Towns Act 1946, which created development corporations and, together with the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act, allowed local authorities to build over 1 million council homes by 1951 and launch 28 new towns over the next half-century. Today Housing Secretary Angela Rayner warns that without a comparable build rate, Britain risks repeating the 1940s shortage.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner called the 1.5 million-home pledge a “difficult” challenge.
Rayner likened the target to marathon, noting it needs 300,000 homes but only 208,600 were built in 2024/25, a 6 percent drop.
Since July 2024 the government added 392,400 homes, roughly two-thirds of the rate required by 2029.
A £16 billion Housing Bank will fund infrastructure, with Rayner ruling out rent freezes, citing the Renters’ Rights Act.

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