Simon Harris: Derelict Sites Tax & Major Housing Push
Simon Harris outlines government action today to introduce a derelict sites tax, tighten rules on short-term lets, and announce major housing infrastructure funding. He says the measures will be legislated in the finance bill and that dozens of infrastructure projects will be funded to unlock homes.
Derelict sites tax
Simon Harris says the government will move to tackle widespread dereliction during the housing emergency. He argues it is unacceptable that so many potential homes remain unused and confirms legislation will be brought forward in the finance bill.
Short-term lets clarity
Harris highlights progress by Ministers Brown and Burke on short-term lets reform. He stresses the need for a clear distinction: are properties being used as short-term lets or as long-term homes, particularly in larger towns and cities.
Housing infrastructure funding
The minister previews a significant funding announcement from the Housing Infrastructure Activation Office. Funding will focus on key infrastructure - water, drainage, roads, pedestrian and cycle links - to enable delivery of more homes across the country.
Next steps and impact
Simon Harris presents these measures as immediate government action to protect housing supply and give young people a fairer chance of buying a home. The combination of tax, regulatory clarity and infrastructure investment is framed as a coordinated approach to speed housing delivery.
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Look forward to a busy cabinet agenda today with a real focus on housing. Today you're going to see progress around a derelict sites tax because it's absolutely essential in the middle of a housing emergency that we don't tolerate widespread dereliction across this country at a time when the social contract is really stretched for young people, wondering will they be able to buy a home. It's not acceptable that so many homes, so many potential homes are derelict. Government will act and I look forward to legislating for this in the finance bill. You'll also see progress between both Minister Brown and Minister Burke in terms of short-term lets, again putting a new structure in place where you got to call it, are you a short-term let, are you a long-term let, because we need clarity in relation to this particularly in our larger towns and cities. And later today you'll see a very significant funding announcement in relation to crucial housing infrastructure. As you know we set up a housing infrastructure activation office. Sometimes to deliver more homes you need to put in key infrastructure, be it water, be it drainage, be it road infrastructure, be it pedestrian or cycle infrastructure too. And you can expect a significant announcement from government on dozens of projects right across the country in that space later today.
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