Peers have accused the government of setting “exaggerated” and “misleading” targets for the number of new homes that it would build on reclaimed public sector land.
Under the Public Land for Housing Programme, ministers set a target for 160,000 new homes to be built on land reclaimed from government departments between 2015 and March of this year.
However, the latest figures reveal that land sufficient for only around 48,000 homes has been released over the period.
Speaking to the Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee yesterday, housing minister Esther McVey had to admit the government had failed on its aim, but said its priorities had changed with a new focus on building hospitals.
She was asked by one of the Lords*: “A target 160,000 new homes was set. It hasn’t been met – when will it be met?”
McVey responded: “You’re right it hasn’t been met. It was very ambitious when it was set and we will continue to see what can be delivered there.
“At the moment we have got a housing capacity of about 48,000 units, but I think we can all agree it was very aspirational when that figure was set.”
“You mean it was exaggerated?,” the Peer replied.
McVey said: “Aspirational, we’ll leave it there shall we.”
However, the housing minister was further rebuked over the missed target by another member of the Lords’ committee: “It’s all very well to set aspirational targets, but if there’s not a cat in hell’s chance of them being met it’s a bit misleading isn’t it?”
The member continued: “Minister the government has been in office for ten years, even with an aspirational target you would have thought it might have been somewhere near succeeding by now. Can you tell us when this target will be reached?”
McVey responded by highlighting the Johnson government’s promise to build 40 new hospitals, which she said was a significant change of direction.
She said: “That land that could have come forward won’t, because it will be retained by the Department of Health to deliver those hospitals.”
*It is currently not possible to identify which Lords were speaking as only an audio recording of the session is available.
