May’s war on Nimbys as she pledges: We’ll build 300,000 homes
PM risks rebellion in Tory councils – including her own – as she t argets well-heeled areas
THERESA MAY is to declare war on ‘Nimbys’ with radical plans to build 300,000 homes a year – and risk a revolt from Tories in her wealthy Maidenhead constituency.
The Prime Minister has given her backing to moves by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid to force town halls in affluent areas to build more homes – or have targets forced on them.
Mr Javid will this week warn t hat i f wealthy areas l i ke Maidenhead i n Berkshire refuse to build extra homes to solve the UK’s housing crisis, they will drive more young voters who can’t afford to buy i nto t he arms of Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Javid has been pledged full support by Mrs May, who already faces a feud in her local Conservative Association over plans to build more houses aimed at young buyers. Mr Javid will promise to increase the number of homes built a year in Britain from 190,000 to 300,000, a rise of 58 per cent.
Many areas in the Home Counties will face pressure to build more homes including Windsor, which neighbours Maidenhead, as well as further afield Cambridge and West Dorset.
Government officials say Mr Javid will t arget councils accused of ‘ lying’ about the scale of housing needs in their area in a bid to avoid having to build new homes.
‘From now on these council leaders, who include many Conservatives who should know better, are going to have to start telling the truth,’ said an official.
‘We are not prepared for them to lie about the housing crisis to protect Nimbys [Not In My Backyard] who have had too much sway for too long.
‘ They are going to have to adjust to the idea that everyone has a right to a roof over their head in this green and pleasant land, not just a privileged few.
‘Owning your own home is a fundamental part of being a Conservative. If a whole generation of young people cannot afford to do that, we can’t complain if they vote Labour.’
The official continued: ‘Selfish Conservative councils need to smell the coffee or there won’t be a Conservative Party in the future. We have to end the tyranny of a well-heeled minority who complain a maisonette built within five miles will ruin the view from their “in-out driveways” and orangeries. They have the cash and clout to bully everyone else into submission. It cannot go on.’
Similar plans by Mr Javid earlier this year were vetoed after Mrs May’s advisers feared it could lose votes in the Election. He has now persuaded the Prime Minister that it is time to act and that Labour’s Election performance showed it is more vital than ever.
Sources said Mr Javid believes the notion that betteroff areas get special treatment is ‘corrosive to trust’ and he is ready to ‘shame’ some council leaders into owning up to housing needs. They will be ordered to perform a ‘full and frank’ audit of their area and explain how they will meet demand.
But he is likely to face criticism from groups such as the Campaign To Protect Rural England, which has accused him of ‘allowing open season on our precious countryside’.
To soften the blow, the Government is considering offeri ng extra cash t o protect beauty spots from heavy traffic and build bypasses to preserve the quiet in villages.
‘We have to end the tyranny of a minority’