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Demolition supports Labour’s plan to build 1.5 million homes

Demolition will play a vital role in supporting Rachel Reeves’ plan to build 1.5 million homes by helping to clear land and create space for new housing developments, particularly in urban and brownfield areas. Reeves’ plan includes targeting “less desirable” parts of the green belt, brownfield regeneration, and infrastructure development​. These areas often contain older, inefficient buildings that are either unused or unsuitable for modernisation, making demolition a necessary step before construction can begin.

Here’s how demolition will support the plan:

  1. Regenerating Brownfield Sites: Many of the new homes are expected to be built on brownfield sites—previously developed land that may have old or derelict buildings. Demolition is critical to clear these sites, ensuring that developers have a clean slate to begin new construction. This is particularly true for inner-city areas where space is limited.
  2. Removing Inefficient Buildings: As part of Labour’s focus on sustainability, older buildings that do not meet modern energy standards may be demolished to make way for more energy-efficient housing. Upgrading the housing stock is a priority to meet climate goals, and in many cases, it’s more practical to demolish older buildings than to retrofit them​.
  3. Enabling Urban Development: Labour’s plan to ease restrictions on building in certain green belt areas, dubbed “grey belt” by Keir Starmer, may involve the demolition of existing structures to facilitate the construction of new housing developments. This approach ensures that land is used efficiently while supporting Labour’s housing targets​.
  4. Boosting Infrastructure Projects: Demolition may also be needed to support the infrastructure necessary for new housing, such as schools, transport links, and energy projects. Reeves has highlighted the need to improve the UK’s infrastructure alongside housing growth, which could require clearing space through demolition​.

By enabling site clearance and preparing land for new construction, the demolition industry will be an essential partner in achieving the ambitious housebuilding goals set by Labour.