Flagship accelerator unlocks 125,000 homes and takes on new sites

The government has announced the launch of Phase 2 of the New Homes Accelerator, a central initiative designed to expedite the delivery of over 125,000 new homes that had been delayed by planning and regulatory barriers. This expanded intervention comes as part of a broader national effort to meet the target of delivering 1.5 million homes and to stimulate economic growth through enhanced construction activity across the United Kingdom.

In a significant policy development, support will now extend to smaller housing sites – those under 500 homes – while maintaining an acute focus on accelerating projects within London and key regional growth corridors such as the Oxford-Cambridge arc. The New Homes Accelerator, having already facilitated progress on more than 48,500 homes by deploying expert planning support and fostering interagency cooperation, is now actively addressing additional constraints affecting a further 76,500 homes, particularly those related to statutory consultation, infrastructure integration, and utility coordination.

Seven new sites have been incorporated into the Accelerator’s remit, with over 11,400 homes to be delivered in prioritised regions, including North West Bicester, South East Bicester, the Stewartby Brickworks in Bedfordshire, and other high-potential development zones. The initiative’s expansion into London, under the leadership of the Greater London Authority, involves the creation of dedicated services such as NHA LDN and ATLAS LDN, both aimed at mobilising London boroughs, developers, and strategic partners, including Transport for London, to overcome long-standing delays and bureaucratic challenges. This integrated approach targets the delivery of new homes on sites that have faced substantial obstacles, ensuring completions within the lifetime of the current Parliament.

The Housing Secretary has called upon developers, landowners, and local authorities to bring forward further candidates for Accelerator support, signalling ongoing opportunities for new entrants, established contractors, and supply chain partners seeking to participate in high-priority housing delivery. Collaboration with Homes England remains central, with the agency’s expertise and resources being directed towards unlocking the most complex sites, including those where regulatory processes such as flood risk management, environmental assessments, and infrastructure planning have impeded progress.

The New Homes Accelerator’s strategic partnership model also includes the launch of a year-round digital portal, enhancing transparency and enabling builders, councils, and site owners to report stalled or underperforming assets. Noteworthy progress has been achieved at sites including Rectory Farm in Lincolnshire, AGT-2 in Aylesbury, and Hampden Fields, with the latter seeing rapid advancement due to streamlined engagement with the Environment Agency and local councils.

The programme’s ongoing success, evidenced by a cumulative acceleration of homes since August 2025 and reinforced by prominent sector voices from Homes England, Persimmon Homes, Keepmoat, and The Hill Group, underscores the importance of coordinated problem-solving and consistent government-industry dialogue. For firms seeking to expand across England, the New Homes Accelerator presents tangible opportunities to engage in large-scale housing schemes, benefit from expedited planning support, and contribute to a concerted national drive for residential construction and regeneration.

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