Public land unlocked for the next generation of home owners
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-27)

New taskforce to unlock thousands of homes across England as government takes on the blockers to release surplus public land for housing.

New taskforce to unlock thousands of homes across England as government takes on the blockers to release surplus public land for housing, with defence land becoming a ‘trailblazer’ for a new approach for development.

Network Rail property company set to unlock up to 40,000 new homes over the next decade with first homes set for development in Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham.

Initiatives support the Plan for Change missions to deliver 1.5 million homes by the next parliament, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

Thousands of new homes will be unlocked on surplus public defence land to speed up the delivery of housing for hard-working people and families, thanks to a new taskforce to remove the blockers, build homes and turbocharge economic growth. Alongside a pioneering new Network Rail property company, which will see a further 40,000 homes built, supporting delivery of building 1.5 million homes, as set out in the Plan for Change.

This goes hand in hand with the government’s planning reforms, which are forecasted to add around £6.2 billion the UK’s economy, according to yesterday’s OBR forecast. This will bring jobs, opportunity and growth to regions across the country – enabling people to see the Plan for Change in action.

Unused land will be identified, developed and released by a cross-government collaboration, which will focus on getting it back into productive use as quickly as possible by removing barriers that have prevented houses coming forward at pace on vacant public land for too long.

This ambitious new partnership approach will explore new delivery models, establish collaborative agreements between the Ministry of Defence, Homes England, Network Rail and other government bodies, bring in the private sector – ultimately getting spades in the ground sooner to deliver homes faster, making the dream of homeownership a reality for many.

It will also see a new property company created between Network Rail property and London & Continental Railways, which will attract public and private investment to develop brownfield sites. It will become operational later this year and will have the potential to deliver 40,000 new homes over the next ten years. Today the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is confirming the first four sites that will be developed in Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said:

For too long, surplus government-owned sites have gone underused, but they are a huge untapped resource that could create opportunities for the next generation of homeowners.

In contrast to the failed approach of the past, we are making the best use of public land to build the homes that families and our Armed Forces need, improving opportunities for homeownership and creating jobs across the country.

The OBR has confirmed our planning reforms will result in housebuilding being at its highest in over 40 years – that won’t just bring jobs and economic growth – but also will give families the homes that they deserve, delivering on our Plan for Change.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner said:

So many working people and families are locked out of the dream of a secure home and this is a direct consequence of the housing crisis we’ve inherited.

That’s why we’re unlocking public land today for much-needed new housing to help end the housing crisis, deliver 1.5 million homes, and unleash growth as part of our Plan for Change.

Defence land

Today (27 March) the Chancellor is confirming the first of these sites to be unblocked through this ambitious new approach and begin delivering homes in this Parliament. This includes a site in Ripon, which will be transferred from MoD to Homes England to allow construction at Deverell Barracks to start within 12 months to expedite the delivery of 1,300 homes.

A new partnership between the MoD and Homes England will also aim to unlock a further 1,300 homes by partially releasing land at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell and deliver thousands of new homes at Wyton airfield in Cambridgeshire in the coming years.

This move is just the start, the Defence Secretary has identified the long-term opportunity to build over 100,000 homes on surplus defence land, improving opportunities for homeownership and creating jobs across the country.

Part of this effort includes a commitment to building and modernising family homes for the Armed Forces and Veterans. The disastrous 1996 privatisation of Armed Forces family housing was reversed in January this year, an established expert and independent Review Team will drive a once in a generation plan to modernise homes for 50,000 Armed Forces families, with a new Defence Housing Strategy to be launched later this Summer.

The innovative partnership between the MoD and Homes England will be the blueprint for a new “trailblazer” approach to accelerate the release of public land.

Defence Secretary John Healey said:

This work will unlock thousands of new homes on surplus defence land, including in North Yorkshire, Nottingham and Cambridgeshire – developments promised for years by the last government, but never delivered.

This heralds a new, trailblazer approach to the use of public land which will not be a fire sale of public assets, but a truly cross-government effort to remove blockers, deliver homes and boost growth in support of our Plan for Change.

This taskforce is a bold first step, as we make the most of an historic opportunity to build over 100,000 homes on surplus defence land in the coming years, delivering on our commitments to British families and our Armed Forces.

Rail estate land

As part of the new property company, significant sites that are in the pipeline for development, include:

Newcastle Forth Yards: a 100-acre regeneration opportunity which could deliver 5,000 new homes

Manchester Mayfield: opportunity for 1,500 new homes

Cambridge: a mixed-use development with 425 homes

Nottingham: 200 new homes following 348 successfully delivered homes at The Barnum, Nottingham

Today’s announcements follow the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament which will see significant measures introduced to speed up planning decisions to boost housebuilding and builds on work the government has already carried out to get Britain building including overhauling the National Planning Policy Framework.

More information

The government is committed to honouring the sacrifices made by veterans and ensuring homes will be there for heroes. In November, the government announced plans to give veterans greater access to social housing by removing a local connection requirement. More information within the Easier access to social housing for veterans confirmed press release (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/easier-access-to-social-housing-for-veterans-confirmed).

The government will publish a Long-Term Housing Strategy and has committed to set out details of further new government investment in social and affordable housing to at the Spending Review this year, following on from the £2 billion down payment announced yesterday, as well as confirming the government’s plans to provide certainty for the transformative programme of building the new generation of new towns.