In the coming months, the government will publish a long-term housing strategy how it aims to “transform the housing market”.

In her address to parliament yesterday, Rayner stated that, under Labour, local housing targets will now be mandatory, with the standard method for calculating housing need set to be updated.

Local authorities will be required to plan for homes proportionate to the size of existing communities.

It is also expected to incorporate an uplift where house prices are most disproportionate to local incomes.

The annual housing target has now risen from 300,000 to 370,000, with London assigned to produce 80,000 of these homes.

“Some will say a total of 370,000 is not enough, to this I say: ambition is critical, but we also need to be realistic,” said Rayner. 

The deputy PM also compelled local authorities to review their greenbelt if needed to meet their housing targets, but emphasised that “low quality ‘greybelt’ land” should be prioritised.

For developments on greenbelt land, half of it must now consist of affordable housing with a focus on social rent.

Further details of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were also given, such as the reforming of planning committees, further changes to compulsory purchase compensation rules to ensure fair but non-excessive payment to landowners, a streamlined delivery process for critical infrastructure, enabling local authorities to put their planning departments on sustainable footings, and providing legal underpinning needed for nature recovery and building cohesion.

Rayner also pledged to end constant changes and disruption to planning policy, set clear expectations of universal local plan coverage, and step in directly where residents are let down by local authorities.

The deputy PM also made plans to increase social housing, saying: “I am announcing immediate steps for the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation,” adding that the government will introduce flexibilities in the current Affordable Homes Programme with Homes England, and bring forward details of future government investment at the Spending Review.

Changes to Right to Buy were also revealed; the government has started reviewing the increased discounts introduced in 2012 and is increasing flexibilities for councils when using Right to Buy receipts.

Possible further reforms to Right to Buy could be made in Autumn.

Meanwhile, £450m from the Local Authority Housing Fund will go to local councils to provide 2,000 new homes.

 A key pledge in the Labour Party manifesto was to deliver 1.5 million homes over the next parliament, with planning reform at the heart of this.

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In one of her first speeches as chancellor, Rachel Reeves identified “decisive reform” in the UK’s planning system as key to this. This would include active involvement of both her office and Rayner’s.

This was positively received at the time by the housing and development industry, with the commitments described as a “welcome first step”.

Since yesterday’s announcement from Rayner, industry professionals have had their say on Labour’s housing plan

Chris Baguley, director at Together:

“When it comes to housing, it’s clear Labour is keen to get spades in the ground as fast as possible to deliver the quality, affordable accommodation needed.

“A council house revolution was called for, including more flexibility via Homes England, future government investment ,and review of Right to Buy, too.

“However, whether the deputy PM will be able to meet ambitious housebuilding targets of 370,000 new homes a year — including across green and greybelt areas — as authorities can still push back against development despite mandatory targets, may continue to be an area of contention.”

Andrew Montlake, managing director at Coreco:

"Housing targets have made a dramatic comeback in an attempt to finally get Britain building once more and meet the needs of the existing and a new generation of homebuyers, cast adrift by a broken housing market.

“The focus is very much on colours, with brown, grey, and green the buzzwords every NIMBY will be focusing on.

“Labour are showing their determination to get on with the job in hand, and we can only hope that this is a new era of consultation, transparency, and partnership, with all stakeholders in the housing market acting for the long-term benefit of homebuyers all over the country."

Marc Vlessing, chair at Pocket Living:

“The changes announced within the draft revised NPPF are certainly a welcome strong step in the right direction in this new government’s attempt to get more homes built.

“But they are only a step as we await the more radical thinking that will be needed to achieve this uplifted target of 370,000 homes per year.

“The focus on creating a more permissive planning regime to unlock small brownfield sites is to be welcomed and is a call we have been leading on for nearly three years.

“Such a policy could unlock hundreds of thousands of new affordable homes across England without costing the Treasury a penny.

“We also need to be clear on the type of affordable homes we need to build. Yes to more social rent, but that should not be at the expense of affordable homes to buy, given Labour’s commitment to becoming the party of homeownership.”