Full Breakdown
Andrew Griffith Unveils Conservative Deregulation Blueprint at Birmingham Conference
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Proposal: Deregulation to Slash Housing Costs
The plan targets three main cost drivers in new-build housing:
- Abolishing the Future Homes Standard and related low-carbon heating requirements, which the party says add roughly £30,789 to the price of a detached home.
- Replacing Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a single developer charge, intended to speed approvals and reduce delays.
- Eliminating the Extended Producer Responsibility (Extended Packaging Responsibility (EPR)) scheme, which the Conservatives estimate imposes a £1.5 billion burden on businesses.
Collectively, the Conservatives claim these measures could lower the price of a new home by up to £50,000 and reduce the cost of weekly groceries by removing the “polluter-pays” fee on packaging producers.
Background & Context
The policy launch follows the Conservatives’ loss in the 2024 general election and a subsequent effort to rebuild credibility on economic issues. Party leader Kemi Badenoch recently published a 100-page document outlining guiding principles for a potential return to government. The conference speech builds on that framework, positioning deregulation as the party’s answer to rising food prices, a housing shortage, and perceived “socialist” policies of Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Figure | Source Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| Potential reduction in new-build cost | £50,000 per home | Conservative Party claim |
| Additional cost from low-carbon heating mandates | £30,789 per detached home | Birmingham City Council 2023 report (cited by party researchers) |
| Annual energy-bill saving from heat-pump installation | £2,715 per home | Same council report |
| Economic burden of EPR scheme | £1.5 billion to businesses | Conservative Party estimate |
| Proposed tax-code simplification | Qualitative claim of “cat’s cradle of complexity” | Griffith’s speech (summarized) |
Official Statements & Responses
- He argued that the current tax code “steals time” from businesses and families, and pledged a “mission for tax simplification” by every treasury minister.
- He also warned that “economic control” has been “diminished by selling off essentials” to private owners.
Verbatim Quotes
- “No-one can take anything the Conservatives say on the economy seriously given their litany of fantasy-land financial pledges.” — Europe. She
What’s Next
- The Labour government’s Budget is scheduled for 28 October, where Chancellor John Healey will present fiscal measures that the Conservatives say will be contrasted with their deregulation agenda.
- The Conservative Party is expected to incorporate the outlined reforms into a future manifesto, with further details on the single developer charge and the fate of Natural England slated for release later in the year.