In an ideal world, the Labour government elected earlier this year would soon be looking on with satisfaction as the number of foundations being dug, bricks laid, pipes fitted and insulated roofing sheets installed all increased. That would mean progress was being made towards its target of raising the number of new homes being constructed.

Having taken office with a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of the five-year parliament (assuming they don’t call the next election sooner), the key issue is how they go about the nuts-and-bolts business of making it happen.

Among the key issues identified as a stumbling block to both residential and infrastructure construction is the planning system in its current form. In a speech this month, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined how changes to planning rules would push forward housebuilding by streamlining the planning process.

Sir Kier pledged ten-year strategies for infrastructure and housebuilding, commenting: “This is an ambitious milestone for change. It will require a rate of housebuilding and infrastructure construction not seen in over 50 years.” 

Some details of what the government is planning were made apparent in the Labour election manifesto in the summer. Among the more controversial details was a plan to reassess parts of the green belt, which might be reclassified as ‘grey belt’ so that it can be built on.

Construction firms based in the north might wonder how effective such a policy would be. Much could depend on how ‘grey belt’ is defined, but one possible classification is sites that were previously developed and now lie in the green belt.

Estate agent Knight Frank has identified over 11,000 of these, which could provide between 100,000 and 200,000 homes, depending on density. While 40 per cent of the sites are in the London greenbelt area, there is certainly a lot in the north, with 1,129 in South and West Yorkshire and 1,068 in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

An opportunity has been spotted. What remains to be seen is whether this change can be pushed through amid what is sure to be some stern opposition from campaigners wanting to protect greenbelt land.