Labour's Housing Promises: What they mean for Frome and FACLT

The Labour Party’s ambitious housing promises aim to tackle the UK’s housing crisis head-on, with significant implications for towns like Frome. Here’s what these promises mean for our community and the Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT).

Key Policies and Their Potential Impact

Building 1.5 Million Homes (2024-2029)

Labour plans to build 1.5 million homes over the next parliament. For Frome, this could mean more local housing developments, potentially easing the current housing shortage and making homes more affordable. More housing options could lower costs due to increased supply. However, this development could strain Frome’s existing infrastructure, impacting roads, schools, healthcare, and public services.

Updating the National Policy Planning Framework

Restoring mandatory housing targets and ensuring local plans are up-to-date would streamline the development process. This means Frome could see quicker approval times for new housing projects, meeting local demand more efficiently and creating a more responsive planning system.

Prioritising Brownfield Sites

Fast-tracking urban brownfield sites for development could revitalise neglected areas in Frome while preserving valuable greenfield sites. This approach not only maximises land use efficiency but also rejuvenates parts of the town that may have been overlooked.

Sustainable Development and Green Belt Preservation

Labour pledges to balance growth with environmental concerns, preserving green belts while supporting sustainable development. This would help protect Frome’s cherished green spaces while allowing for necessary urban expansion, maintaining the town’s character and natural beauty. Labour emphasises that their approach to the green belt will be more strategic, prioritising the protection of high-quality green spaces while allowing for development on less valuable land dubbed the “grey belt.”

The “grey belt” refers to areas of lower-quality green belt land that Labour proposes to release for development. This land typically consists of poor-quality scrubland, disused car parks, and other neglected spaces that are not environmentally valuable. By focusing on these areas, Labour aims to protect the more valuable green belt land while addressing the housing crisis. This policy includes specific rules to ensure that any development on grey belt land benefits the community and nature, such as mandating that 50% of the homes built on this land should be affordable.

Stamp Duty Surcharge for Non-UK Residents

Increasing the stamp duty surcharge for non-UK residents aims to discourage speculative buying, potentially making homes more accessible to local residents in Frome. This could help prevent property prices from being driven up by overseas investors.

New Towns and Strategic Planning

Creating new towns and communities across England aims to distribute housing development more evenly. This could reduce pressure on Frome’s infrastructure and promote balanced regional growth, leading to a more sustainable population distribution.

Empowering Combined Authorities

Granting more planning powers to Combined Authorities could allow Frome’s local authorities to tailor housing projects to meet specific community needs more effectively. Localised control ensures developments align with Frome’s unique characteristics and requirements.

Reforming Compulsory Purchase and Compensation Rules

Labour’s proposed reforms aim to speed up the delivery of essential housing and amenities. This could benefit Frome by addressing housing shortages more promptly, although delays in policy implementation and funding constraints could hinder timely delivery.

Increasing Social and Affordable Housing

A significant increase in social and affordable housing would provide Frome’s lower-income residents with more accessible housing options, easing housing stress and promoting community inclusivity. Ensuring genuine affordability that aligns with local incomes will be crucial for true effectiveness.

Strengthening Planning Obligations

Ensuring new developments prioritise affordable and social rented homes could meet diverse housing needs in Frome more effectively. This would cater to a broad spectrum of the community, from first-time buyers to those needing affordable rental options.

First-Time Buyer Support

Supporting first-time buyers could encourage young professionals and families to settle in Frome, contributing to community growth and stability. Promoting social integration within new developments and with existing communities is essential for Frome’s cohesion.

Ending No-Fault Evictions

Labour plans to end no-fault evictions (Section 21 evictions) and introduce rent controls to provide greater security for renters. This could significantly impact Frome’s rental market, offering tenants more stability and protection from sudden displacement. These measures would help ensure that renters feel more secure in their homes, potentially leading to a more stable and cohesive community.

Homelessness Strategy

A comprehensive cross-government strategy aims to end homelessness, building on past successes when Labour was last in power. This includes increased collaboration with local councils and mayors to address the issue. For Frome, this strategy could mean more resources and support for homeless individuals, enabling more effective local interventions and providing a path towards permanent housing solutions.

Potential Challenges for Frome

While Labour’s housing policies offer promising solutions, several challenges must be considered for Frome:

Infrastructure Strain: Increased housing development could strain Frome’s infrastructure, impacting roads, schools, healthcare, and public services.
Environmental Impact: Large-scale construction may pose environmental risks to Frome’s green spaces and habitats, despite sustainable development goals.
Local Opposition: Community resistance to new developments could arise due to concerns over changes to Frome’s character and increased traffic.
Affordability Concerns: The definition of affordability must align with local incomes to effectively address Frome’s housing affordability issues.
Economic Viability: Redirecting growth to new towns nearby could affect Frome’s local economy and business attraction.
Implementation and Funding: Delays in policy implementation and funding constraints may hinder the timely delivery of housing benefits to Frome.
Long-Term Sustainability: Ensuring sustainable growth and resource management, including water, waste, and energy, is crucial for Frome’s future.
Social Integration: Promoting social integration within new developments and with existing communities is vital for Frome’s cohesion.
Financial Implications: Securing necessary funding for development and maintenance is crucial for Frome to benefit from Labour’s housing policies.

Conclusions

Labour’s housing promises have the potential to significantly alleviate Frome’s housing crisis while promoting sustainable growth and community well-being. However, addressing challenges such as infrastructure strain, environmental impacts, and local opposition will require careful planning and community engagement. If implemented effectively and inclusively, these policies could transform Frome’s housing landscape for the better, ensuring a more resilient and vibrant community for years to come.

For us at the Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT), Labour’s housing promises could be transformative. Increased housing development, particularly affordable and social housing, aligns with our mission to provide affordable homes for the community. Empowering local authorities with more planning powers could allow us to better collaborate with the council, ensuring developments meet the specific needs of Frome residents. Additionally, prioritising brownfield and grey belt site development could offer new opportunities for us to secure land for affordable housing projects, helping to revitalise neglected areas while preserving important green spaces. However, we would like to see funding specifically to promote CLT led developments which would secure the long term future and availability of social rented homes that are not subject to right to buy, and we will need to be actively involved in planning processes to address potential challenges such as infrastructure strain and community opposition, ensuring that the benefits of these policies are fully realised for our local community.