Portsmouth councillor cautiously accepts Labour housing targets but stresses local issues need highlighting

Rachel Reeves, Labour’s Chancellor, has pledged to “get Britain building again” by reinstating compulsory housebuilding targets as part of a broader strategy to revitalise the UK economy. In her speech, Reeves highlighted the importance of making “tough” and “hard choices” to address long-standing economic issues, aiming to build 1.5 million homes in England within the next parliamentary term. However, she stressed that this would not equate to a “green light” for any kind of housing development.

Councillor Hugh Mason, Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for planning policy, said he wants more thought to be given to targets. He said: “I have no objection in principle to mandatory housing targets. I think given the current situation in the country they may be necessary.

“What I wish to see, however, is that our housing targets take into consideration context rather than just the predicted increase in population. A densely settled city such as this could not meet the 17,000 housing target set by the last government – we just do not have the space. To get 17,000 we would need to take in lands from Portsmouth Harbour, which is very difficult, or we would have to pull down some of our properties and build higher.”

Suggesting a more achievable target for Portsmouth, he said: “13,000 – we could probably manage that and do it without turning everything into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).” He also expressed concerns about national-level planning overriding local needs, adding: “Because Portsmouth is such an unusual city, I would like more attention to be paid to local decision-making and local needs. The worry I have about Rachel Reeves’ statement is she is certainly looking for all major planning applications to be made on a national level.”

Cllr Mason added: “I can see a rationale for that, but you must take into consideration the peculiar local needs of different places. Being an island city, being largely heavily built up, our needs are unlike most other cities of our size.”