There has been media coverage today questioning whether the government’s 1.5 million homes target is achievable and concerns about the OBR forecast on housebuilding being too optimistic. From the outset the government has been clear this is a stretching but achievable target, and thanks to the planning reforms already introduced, including the updated National Planning Policy Framework, this alone will drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years and add £6.8 billion to the UK economy. The OBR’s estimate only covers existing planning reforms and said this will boost housebuilding by 170,000 homes over five years – reaching 1.3 million new homes by 2029/30. This does not account for pro-growth reforms in the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the National Housing Bank, the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, or wider measures coming down the track. When the government announced an overhaul of the planning system within its first month of office, it was publicly supported by a wide range of representatives across the housing sector who welcomed the first and most important step to break down barriers to development. Last month the Housing Secretary convened leading developers and housebuilders to discuss the next phase of planning reform and how to most effectively ramp up housebuilding in the months ahead. Most recently the Housing Secretary has agreed an emergency package with the Mayor of London to accelerate housebuilding in the capital and ensure more affordable homes are built – this was warmly welcomed by the housing sector to get spades in the ground faster and unlock stalled housing sites. The government remains confident in its plans to get Britain building and will continue working closely with the OBR and sector experts to monitor delivery and adapt as needed. **A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said:** “We will leave no stone unturned to build the 1.5 million homes this country desperately needs and restore the dream of homeownership. “On top of the major planning changes we have already introduced to get developers building and our huge £39 billion investment in social and affordable housing, we are going further and faster to accelerate reforms and bring about the biggest era of housebuilding in our country’s history.”

There has been widespread national, trade and broadcast coverage on the department’s **announcement**  on the Renters’ Rights Bill receiving Royal Assent. England’s 11 million private renters will have significant increase to their rights in a generation as the government’s Renters’ Rights Bill received Royal Assent. National coverage can be seen on **BBC News online** highlighting key measures of protection for private renters including abolishing no-fault evictions, limiting rent increases to once a year at market rate and limiting upfront deposits to one month rent. **The Telegraph** , **Independent** and **ITV News online** write explainer pieces on how rental reforms will affect tenants and landlords. **Across broadcast, BBC News** and **ITV News** both ran packages across their evening news bulletins yesterday noting the greater protections for renters. **BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme** also featured the announcement noting that the Housing Minister has had to go back and forth on amendments with the Lords on the Act. **City AM and theBig Issue **focus on comments from the Prime Minister who said the government was “putting an end” to “rogue landlords or insecure contracts”. **The Metro** also carries exclusive words from the Housing Secretary explaining that the Bill the bill would ‘transform the experience of private renting’. The Secretary of State also took part in lunchtime interviews today with **ITN, Jeremy Vine on Radio 2, World at One on Radio 4** and **Radio 5 Live.** A piece on the**Andrew Marr show on LBC** is also due to run this evening. **Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:** “Every family deserves the dignity of a safe and secure home. “For too long, millions of renters have lived at the mercy of rogue landlords or insecure contracts, with their futures hanging in the balance. We’re putting an end to that. “A secure home isn’t just bricks and mortar – it’s the foundation for opportunity, safety, and a better life. No child should grow up without one.” **Secretary of State Steve Reed said:** “Our historic Act marks the biggest leap forward in renters’ rights in a generation. We are finally ending the injustice overseen by previous governments that has left millions living in fear of losing their homes. “For decades, the scales have been tipped against tenants. Now, we’re levelling the playing field between renters and landlords. “We are tearing down the walls of injustice in the private rented sector and building a future where tenants are protected, respected and empowered. “This is an historic moment for renters across the country and we’re proud to deliver it.”

There has been widespread national, regional and broadcast coverage today on the department’s **_announcement_**  on new laws now in force protecting social housing tenants from emergency hazards and damp and mould. Awaab’s Law is a legacy to two-year-old Awaab Ishak who tragically died from prolonged exposure to mould and the reforms will improve the lives for tenants and families living in all four million of England’s social rented homes. The changes mean landlords must fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting, while they must also investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of being notified and then make properties safe in five working days. National coverage can be seen in **_The Guardian_ , _The Independent_**  and **The I** who report the government has committed to extending Awaab’s law to the private rented sector through the Renters’ Rights Bill. **The Mirror**  and **_Sky News_**  also focus on Awaab’s story with comments from his father in the pieces, while **_Sky News_**  have also run an explainer video sharing the story. An op-ed from the Secretary of State is carried in **_Manchester Evening News_** on the ‘tragedy’ and ‘moment of shame for Britain’ when Awaab Ishak died in 2020. The piece states, ‘this can never happen again’ and praises Awaab’s parents for ‘their incredible fight for justice’. Elsewhere, in broadcast coverage **_BBC News_  **has run an in-depth piece on the introduction of Awaab’s Law and the history behind its name and carries comment from the Secretary of State highlighting the law will give tenants a ‘stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk’. **ITV News **hasalso reported on the new rules coming into effect, focusing on the £1 million fund aimed at creating new ways of helping tenants engage with their landlords and have more influence over decisions affecting them. **_The Big Issue_**  carry a piece by Joe Carpenter, an author and previous social housing maintenance worker, who wrote of his experience working on the frontline and seeing the challenges faced by the sector first hand. The Secretary of State took part in the morning broadcast round and was interviewed by **Times Radio, Sky News, BBC Breakfast, LBC, Radio 4 Today programme, Good Morning Britain,** Bauer and **GB News** , with much of the focus on Awaab’s Law. **Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:****  ** “Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death. “Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son. “Our changes will give tenants a stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.”

There has been extensive reaction from the housing sector, and national coverage, of the joint announcement to ramp up housebuilding in the capital – and ensure more affordable homes are built. The package – agreed between the Housing Secretary and Mayor of London yesterday (23 October) – will see a time-limited planning route introduced to get more spades in the ground, temporary levy relief for developers, new powers for the Mayor to review and call-in housing schemes and £322m of initial funding for a City Hall Developer Investment Fund. It will mean that more homes, including affordable homes and those for social rent, can be built and built faster - with strict conditions in place to speed up the delivery of new homes. **_Reaction from the housing sector includes:_** **Mark Allan, Chief Executive of Landsec, said:**   “The Secretary of State, the Housing and Planning Minister and the Mayor of London should be congratulated on the pace and focus they have brought to agreeing this package. We recognise that they have moved substantially to put these measures in place. “At the moment, too few schemes are coming forward in London for development. That’s bad for Londoners and it’s bad for the nation. But we also know that if we significantly ramp up housing delivery in the capital we can unlock up to £40 billion in economic benefits to the UK. “The package announced today should go a long way to unlock delivery on stalled sites and accelerate delivery on others, ensuring thousands more homes – including social and affordable homes – are delivered for the benefit of Londoners. We’re keen to get moving.“ **John Mulryan, Group Managing Director, Ballymore, said:******  “We welcome the package announced by the Government today. The measures will have a direct and positive impact on accelerating the delivery of affordable and private homes within our land pipeline — around 15,000 homes across London. “Successful housing delivery in the capital depends on a shared commitment to tackling barriers together. Project viability remains the greatest obstacle to new homes, and we are encouraged that the Government has recognised this and is taking action.” **Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Group Chief Executive of L &Q, said:**  "We can't afford not to build new social homes in London, and owe it to the families living in temporary, overcrowded or unsuitable homes to find a way to kickstart development at scale. "We're pleased to see the Government and Mayor of London working together on this challenge and are committed to being part of the solution. We have a strong track record of delivering high quality, affordable homes in London, and look forward to exploring the opportunities unlocked by these changes - alongside critical future measures including funding and rent convergence." **Clare Miller, CEO of Clarion Housing Group, said:**  “We welcome the government’s commitment to unlocking development in London. Meeting the capital’s housing need requires bold collaboration across sectors. Clarion is ready to work with government and private partners to deliver the affordable and social homes that Londoners urgently need.” **Stephen Teagle, Chief Executive Partnerships and Regeneration, Vistry Group, said:**  "Vistry continues to work in partnership with the Government to help deliver its ambitious housing agenda, including transformative commitments to boosting affordable housebuilding. Delivering more affordable homes, particularly in London, remains central to achieving shared housing and growth objectives. While we recognise the immediate challenges around housing viability in London, Vistry remains committed to leveraging our unique partnerships model, close collaboration with planning authorities, and continued engagement with Government and partners to ensure that the affordable homes our communities need are delivered." **Ben Denton, Head of Strategic Growth, Affordable Homes, Legal & General, said:** “This is a tough call for policy makers. But it is evident that new build housing in London has stalled due to viability issues. This temporary measure will help restart delivery—something that is crucial for London’s continued growth and accessibility as a place to live and work.” **Darragh Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Mount Anvil, said:**  “In times of crisis, action is needed. We welcome these bold, creative, and decisive measures. Many more Londoners will now benefit from the improved life chances that the delivery of high-quality new homes offers.” **David Thomas, Chief Executive at Barratt Redrow, said:**  “This is a welcome set of proposals that will help to tackle the housing delivery crisis in London. Government and industry are united in wanting to build more homes of all tenures and deliver the investment in infrastructure, jobs and economic growth that development brings. We will continue to work with Government and the Mayor of London to find ways to bring forward developments and unlock more affordable housing to achieve their ambitious targets and meet housing need in the capital." **Paul Rickard, Chief Executive Officer, Pocket Living, said:**  “We are pleased to see a range of meaningful interventions from the Housing Secretary and Mayor of London that will make a real difference in delivering much-needed London homes of every type. The government and GLA continue to listen to the sector, and these changes could provide a vital lifeline for London’s SME housebuilders while ensuring the capital remains central to delivering 1.5 million new homes.” **Rob Perrins, Chair of Berkeley Group, said:**  "We commend the Secretary of State and Mayor of London's leadership in bringing forward this package, which goes a long way towards resolving London's viability challenge. For these measures to work in practice, every organisation involved in housing delivery must now get behind them, and act with real urgency and conviction to increase homebuilding at pace. "At Berkeley Group, we want to play a lead role in driving London's growth. As viability is restored, we stand ready to invest some £3 billion into new land and homebuilding activity, alongside the investment to create our own £2 billion Build to Rent platform." **Simon Carter, CEO, British Land, said:**  "We are delighted to see the new Secretary of State move quickly and whilst this is not a silver bullet, we are encouraged by the direction of travel for new planning applications." **Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive of the Home Builders Federation said:**  “Today’s [23 October] announcement will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in seeing more new homes built for Londoners and ensuring that London thrives socially and economically. For many reasons, building homes in London has become ever more challenging over recent years and as a result the housing pipeline for the capital has all but dried up. To maintain its status as a world-leading city, London desperately needs more new homes. These efforts to improve the viability of delivering new housing and speed up the process of turning investment into homes will help reverse the decline in homebuilding. We now hope to see efforts to support affordability and home buyers, which would make sure this package truly delivers." **John Dickie, Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said:**   “With housing starts, planning applications and house sales at historic lows in the capital, the Government and Mayor are right to take action to accelerate delivery of the new homes that Londoners desperately need. As housebuilding costs have spiralled in recent years, construction has faltered. This is hitting London’s competitiveness by making it harder for employers to recruit and retain staff, while also forcing boroughs to collectively spend £5.5 million a day on temporary accommodation to tackle homelessness. “Temporarily adjusting the percentage of affordable homes that a project should provide and offering time-limited relief on developer contributions to local infrastructure payments are welcome and these changes, along with greater flexibility on design standards and enhanced planning powers for the Mayor, will help to get more shovels in the ground. We are delighted to see the Government back our calls for the establishment of a City Hall Developer with £320m of funding which can be used to leverage in more private investment and create partnerships to unlock more land for development. **Antonia Jennings, CEO at Centre for London, said:**  “Housebuilding by developers in the capital has plummeted. And we’ve therefore seen a huge reduction in the number of social homes built in London. 336,000 London households are on the waiting list for a social home. Many people are stuck in overcrowded, mouldy or unsafe housing. Something has to change” “The 35% affordable homes target for new developments is admirable, and it’s one London should strive for in the long-term. “The reality is, however, that 35% of nothing, is nothing. When no new developments are being built, there will be no new social homes. If reducing the affordability targets to fast-track planning permission unlocks a substantial number of new developments, the end result will be more social homes in the capital. With the state of the housing crisis, we need immediate action and to make difficult decisions to get spades in the ground. “This is a pilot project, set to take place for two years. It must be used as a temporary measure to release the backlog of stalled sites and unused land, not as a long-term solution.” **Kane Emerson,********Head of Housing, YIMBY Alliance, said:**  “YIMBY Alliance supports the Government’s drive for 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament. Britain has built far too few homes in the best connected locations, driving up housing costs and pricing out working people. The Government’s announcement on improving London Plan guidance is hugely welcome to tackle the housing crisis and allow London to meet the desperate need for more decent homes.”

There has been prominent national print and broadcast coverage about the government unveiling a package of pro-growth amendments to the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill, as part of wider efforts to sweep aside blockers standing in the way of growth and dismantle barriers to get Britain building. This is picked up in **_The Financial Times_** , **_The Independent_** , **_The Guardian_**  and **_LBC_**  focusing on how the pro-growth reforms will speed up the construction of new infrastructure including reservoirs and onshore windfarms. This is on top of granting new powers for ministers to prevent applications being rejected by local councils while they consider using ‘call-in’ powers to decide whether they should be approved. There is also further coverage in **_Housing Today_** , **_Construction Enquirer_ **and**_ENDS Report_ **reporting about the new amendments. **_The Times_**  has run quotes from the Housing Secretary who has pledged to “bulldoze through the barriers that have strangled growth for decades” and “taking the fight directly to the blockers” to see spades in the ground. The news has been welcomed by several organisations, with comments across the media from groups including **the CBI** , **RenewableUK** , **Arup**  and **the Home Builders Federation**. Amendments tabled this week include: * Empowering ministers to issue ‘holding directions’ to stop councils refusing planning permission whilst they consider using their call-in’ powers. * Stopping planning permissions from being timed out on vital housing projects tied up in the courts. * Allowing Natural England to streamline its role by freeing it up to make sensible choices on when to provide advice to local authorities. * Unlocking more onshore windfarms whilst safeguarding UK defence and seismic detection capabilities. * Speeding up the approvals for large reservoirs by enabling non-water sector companies to build reservoirs that are automatically considered as NSIPs. * Securing a win-win across land and sea by allowing the Nature Restoration Fund to support the delivery of marine development. The Housing Secretary undertook the broadcast round this morning speaking to the reforms on **Times Radio** , **BBC Breakfast** , **Sky News** , **ITV’s Good Morning Britain** , **LBC** , and **GB News**. **Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said:** “Britain’s potential has been shackled by governments unwilling to overhaul the stubborn planning system that has erected barriers to building at every turn. It is simply not true that nature has to lose for economic growth to succeed. “Sluggish planning has real world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end. “The changes we are making today will strengthen the seismic shift already underway through our landmark Bill. We will ‘Build, baby, build’ with 1.5 million new homes and communities that working people desperately want and need.”

Following new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, there has been ongoing positive coverage highlighting the package of workers’ rights reforms, spearheaded by the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner with the Department for Business and Trade. Today’s newspapers prominently report that the Bill will ban non-disclosure agreements used by employers to stop employees from talking about their experiences of harassment and abuse at work. The story is on the front page of today’s **_Guardian_** with an editorial hailing the change. Elsewhere it is reported by **BBC online** , **_Mirror_  (p2), Financial Times (p2), _Telegraph_  (p2), Daily Mail (p4), _Sky News_ , Times (p37, James Hurley), LBC **with copy running in the **Independent **and regional media including the **Evening Standard**. **_The i Paper_** also runs an exclusive interview with the Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders. Zelda Perkins, founder of the campaign group Can’t Buy My Silence and former PA to Harvey Weinstein, is quoted across coverage and in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme describing the ban as “a huge milestone” after years of victims being silenced and praised the government for showing it has “listened and understood the abuse of power taking place”. There is also widespread positive coverage of bereavement leave being extended to those who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks - a compassionate change acknowledging that pregnancy loss grief can be just as profound at any stage. This story ran widely across print, online and national broadcast all day yesterday, with BBC News featuring interviews with campaigners such as Myleene Klass who has an MBE for her services to miscarriage awareness. She told the BBC the change was a “marker for all of the families who have been ignored” as a topic often “swept under the carpet”. Positive comments by the Miscarriage Association’s Chief Executive Vicki Robinson also run widely in reports, calling the change “a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss” - and for partners as well. Other outlets which positively report the news, include **Women’s Health** , **Glamour **and **Stylist** who said the government has now taken a major step towards making its Every Loss Counts campaign a reality. Elsewhere, positive coverage featured in the **Guardian** (p6), **Times** (p4 & p37), **The i Paper** (p6), **ITV News**, **Metro** (p6), **LBC** and trade and regional media picked up from **PA** copy. Elsewhere, the **Daily Mirror** (p6)reports the government’s action to strengthen new laws banning fire, rehire and replace tactics, by closing a loophole ensuring agency staff can’t be used again to replace sacked employees after they refused worse terms and conditions. The Deputy PM also exclusively spoke to the paper (p6) about her mission to Make Work Pay and tackle exploitative employer practices like these, which largely affect the lowest paid workers. See announcements here: * Ban on controversial NDAs silencing abuse - GOV.UK * Employment Rights Bill to increase bereavement leave for families who face pregnancy loss - GOV.UK

In February, the government established an independent working group, chaired by Dominic Grieve KC, to advise on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia. This step has been taken in response to the concerning rise in anti-Muslim hate crime, which has reached record levels. According to the most recent statistics, two in five police-recorded religious hate crimes were directed at Muslims, highlighting the urgent need for a clear and robust framework to address this form of hatred. The group’s work will support wider and ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated hate crime – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change mission for safer streets. The government, and the working group’s published terms of reference, make clear that any proposed definition must be fully compatible with the enduring and fundamental right of British citizens to freedom of speech and expression. This includes the right to criticise, express dislike of, or insult religions, as well as the beliefs and practices of their adherents. The government has made clear it will not compromise on this principle which is essential in a democratic society. The group is operating independently and will provide Ministers with evidence-based advice, in line with the terms of reference already made public. Their work will be informed by a wide range of perspectives and expertise, ensuring that any recommendation is not only thoughtful and principled, but also grounded in the lived experiences and realities faced by communities across the country. By drawing on diverse insights, the working group aims to develop advice for ministers that is both practically effective and socially sensitive - capable of helping to address the rise of anti-Muslim hatred while upholding the democratic values that underpin our society. **An MHCLG spokesperson said:** “We are absolutely committed to defending freedom of speech, and any proposed definition must be compatible with the right to freedom of speech and expression. “The independent working group has been engaging extensively with a wide range of communities and will provide independent, evidence-based advice to Ministers.” As mentioned, the working group is seeking views from a wide range of audiences as part of its work - please see here for more information on the call for evidence: Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition - GOV.UK

There has been prominent, widespread national reporting on the latest update on the next generation of new towns. The story has been covered by outlets including **The Guardian, Financial Times, Telegraph, Independent** and **Express**. The outlets report on the government’s plan for the next generation of new towns - well-designed, beautiful communities with affordable housing, GP surgeries, schools and public transport where people will want to live. The reporting further outlines how over 100 proposals across every region in England have been submitted via a national call for evidence to the New Towns Taskforce for consideration. Areas like London, the South and East of England have the most proposals, but the government is clear it wants to build these new towns in areas where they are needed most. The Taskforce has today set out clear principles on what the next generation of new towns will deliver: affordable housing, vital infrastructure and access to open green spaces and nature, to transform the lives of working people.  Every new town will have the potential to deliver 10,000 homes or more and will include a mix of tenures. The precise mix and numbers of homes will be influenced by the location of the sites. No decisions have yet been made on the locations for and number of new towns. The Taskforce will submit its recommendations to the government in the summer and further details will be set out following this. The Taskforce’s recommendations will be made in the national interest, and on the basis of defined criteria. **Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said:   ** “Time and again we are seeing too many new homes stuck or stalled that not only act as a barrier to growth but also has real-world consequences for working people and families who see homeownership as nothing more than a distant dream. “I will not run away from the tough choices to fix the housing crisis we inherited that has left thousands of families on housing waiting lists, allowed homelessness to spiral out of control, and stopped an entire generation from picking up the keys to their first home. “While our vision for the next generation of new towns is setting the stage for a housebuilding revolution in the years to come, urgent action is needed now to build the homes and infrastructure that our local communities are crying out for. That’s why our New Homes Accelerator is working at pace to find solutions and remove blockages in the system, executing long-lasting solutions to get spades in the ground. “Today we are embarking on the next chapter in our Plan for Change to build 1.5 million new homes, deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, and raise living standards for working people and families across the country.”