Hundreds of thousands of new homes “stuck in the planning system” will be given the green light by a new government agency set up by Deputy Prime Minister

Angela Rayner says the New Homes Accelerator will be staffed by experienced teams from the housing department and Homes England who will be tasked with unblocking schemes delayed by red tape.

Early analysis estimates there are 200 large sites across England which could deliver up to 300,000 new homes, according to the government.

It says the new body will draw together government agencies, local planning departments and housebuilders, “who will work to resolve specific local issues and deploy planning experts on the ground to work through blockages at each site identified”.

The move is part of the government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes over five years in a bid to boost growth.

The body will move to fast track sites across Stretton Hall in Leicestershire, Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community in Essex, and Biggleswade Garden Community in Central Bedfordshire which have the potential to unlock more than 10,000 new homes.

The New Homes Accelerator was announced as part of Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s keynote speech on growth in July.

As a result, the government says four large housing sites are already progressing, which are set to deliver over 14,000 homes across Liverpool, Worcester, Northstowe and Sutton Coldfield.

Rayner says: “Our New Homes Accelerator will quickly identify blockages, fix problems and support local authorities and developers to get shovels in the ground.”

Taylor Wimpey UK planning director Mark Skilbeck, welcomed the move, adding: “Taylor Wimpey has long been clear that there is a need to address the significant delays and resource constraints we are seeing in the planning system, and to move to a much more strategic approach to planning.”

Vistry chief executive, partnerships & regeneration Stephen Teagle points out: Delivering large-scale housing development involves overcoming a host of overlapping obstacles – from planning and infrastructure through to funding challenges.

“Unblocking these pathways will lead to the development of thousands more high-quality sustainable homes while helping to drive economic growth.”