Greens say Labour’s revised plan falls far short of what is needed to tackle Britain’s housing crisis.
Labour’s flagship housing plans have come under renewed scrutiny after the Government confirmed that only 60 per cent of the £39bn Affordable Homes Programme will be allocated to council housing. The decision has prompted criticism from the Green Party, which argues that the shift represents a significant weakening of Labour’s commitment to expanding genuinely affordable homes.
Green MP Hannah Spencer said the announcement marked “a massive backtrack” by Andy Burnham, who previously pledged to dedicate the full programme to council housebuilding. She warned that the revised allocation falls short of what is required to address the scale of housing need across the country.
“This is a massive backtrack by Andy Burnham, who made a clear pledge to dedicate the £39bn Affordable Homes Programme to building desperately needed council housing. It is another missed opportunity to provide the genuinely affordable housing that is so desperately needed.”
Hannah Spencer – Green Party MP
Spencer highlighted the growing pressures facing households, noting that she regularly hears from constituents who are stuck on waiting lists, living in temporary accommodation or experiencing homelessness. “Andy Burnham is continuing to let these people down,” she said, arguing that the Government’s revised plans risk entrenching existing shortages rather than resolving them.
Labour has positioned its housing programme as a central part of its strategy to tackle rising rents, overcrowding and the long‑term decline in social housing stock. However, the Greens say the decision to divert a substantial portion of the funding to other affordable tenures undermines the programme’s potential impact. They argue that only large‑scale investment in council housing can provide secure, low‑cost homes for those most affected by the crisis.
Housing analysts have long warned that Britain faces a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of social homes, with demand far outstripping supply. While Labour maintains that its approach will deliver a mix of affordable options, critics say the country requires a more decisive shift towards public housebuilding.
The Greens are now urging the Government to revisit its plans and restore the full allocation for council housing otherwise the Affordable Homes Programme risks becoming another partial reform that fails to meet the needs of those most affected by the housing crisis.