The government’s New Homes Accelerator (NHA) is expanding to focus on small sites and development in London as it moves into its second phase.

The scheme, which has unlocked 125,000 homes in its first phase, is part of the government’s drive to build 1.5 million homes and boost economic growth across the country.

Lasat year the NHA said it had addressed challenges that were holding back development on scores of large, consented sites across the country by leveraging resource and expertise available to government and its housing and regeneration agency, Homes England.

For the first time support will be extended to smaller sites of less than 500 homes – with a sharp focus on getting homes built this Parliament and ramping up housebuilding in London. 

More sites are joining the programme, including several in the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor. And as part of Phase 2, operations will be expanded in London through the launch of NHA LDN’and a new planning support service for boroughs, ATLAS LDN, which will both be led by the Greater London Authority (GLA) on behalf of the Mayor of London.   

Sites to benefit from support include:

• Rectory Farm in Lincolnshire – c.848 homes (19% affordable housing)
• AGT-2 Site in Aylesbury – c.1,400 homes
• Stewartby Brickworks in Bedfordshire – 1,000 homes
• Land West of Howes Lane, North West Bicester – Part of 6,700 total for NW Bicester batch of sites
• Land at Howes Lane (also known as Himley Village), North West Bicester - Part of 6,700 total for NW Bicester batch of sites
• Hawkwell Village, North West Bicester – Part of c.6,700 total for NW Bicester batch of sites
• Wretchwick Green, South East Bicester – c.1,500 homes

Housing secretary Steve Reed said:  “The number of families and young people locked out of the dream of home ownership is unacceptable so we are doing everything we can to make that dream come true. We’re stripping away the barriers blocking new homes being built and our New Homes Accelerator means 125,000 will now go ahead. But we’re just getting started. This next phase will see spades in the ground even faster as we build the 1.5 million homes this country needs.”

The government has also launched a new year-round portal that will make it easier for builders, councils and landowners to flag sites – whether stuck in planning or simply not moving fast enough.    

Founder and group chief executive of The Hill Group, Andy Hill, said: “Unlocking over 125,000 homes shows the impact that coordinated government action and collaboration with industry can have in turning stalled sites into homes. The focus on priority growth areas, including the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor, alongside support for smaller sites and a renewed push in London, is critical if we are to build at the pace this Parliament requires.”