Government clears path for 100,000 new homes through New Homes Accelerator

The government’s New Homes Accelerator programme has helped unlock progress on almost 100,000 homes across England in its first year, with further large-scale projects now set to benefit.

Launched in August 2024, the initiative was established to speed up delivery on stalled or slow-moving schemes by tackling planning and regulatory obstacles. Run through Homes England, the Accelerator deploys specialist teams to provide local planning capacity, strategic advice and targeted intervention, ensuring developments with consent can move forward more quickly.

To date, the programme has helped accelerate around 36,000 homes that were not building out at the expected pace and supported planning progress for a further 63,000 homes nationwide. The approach has included engaging with statutory consultees, coordinating across government and addressing site-specific issues to ensure construction can begin.

The government has now announced six additional large sites that will benefit from direct Accelerator support, covering more than 12,000 new homes. These include Comeytrowe (Orchard Grove) in Somerset, Wisley Airfield in Guildford, North Leigh Park in Wigan, Hampden Fields in Aylesbury, and two sites in London – Billet Road in Redbridge and High Road West in Haringey. Across these projects, at least 25% of homes are expected to be affordable.

The Wisley Airfield scheme, led by Taylor Wimpey, is one of the first examples where the Accelerator has already had an impact. Work has started on infrastructure for 1,730 homes, including 40% affordable provision, alongside retail, community facilities, a school and extensive green space. Elsewhere, at Worcestershire Parkway, the programme is helping to bring forward 4,500 homes through close coordination between housebuilders and local authorities.

The Accelerator forms part of wider government efforts to meet the commitment of delivering 1.5 million homes over the current Parliament. Alongside the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme and reforms to planning policy, the government argues that targeted action of this kind will help boost housing supply, support local economies and create jobs across construction and the wider supply chain.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the programme was “breaking down the barriers which stop us from building the houses families and young people need.” London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed its role in unblocking delivery in the capital, adding that he looked forward to further collaboration to accelerate housebuilding.

For contractors and suppliers, the programme signals growing momentum on large, complex housing schemes, with new opportunities emerging as government resources are directed at overcoming delivery challenges and keeping projects on track.

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