Labour's house building plan, announced on Tuesday (July 30), includes the reintroduction of mandatory house building targets for local authorities, with the aim to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years.

The plan, announced by newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, includes an update to the National Planning Policy Framework to bring back mandatory housing targets and set "a higher expectation" for how many homes are built annually.

The plan also outlines that green or grey belt development must be held to new "golden rules", meaning 50% of the homes built must be affordable, increase access to green spaces, and have the necessary infrastructure in place. 

The update brings with it a proposed new method to calculate housing need in local authorities, meaning more than 200 councils may see their housing targets increase compared to the current method.

The housing target for Maldon under the proposed new method has been predicted by the Local Government Chronicle to increase to 544 homes a year, reflecting a 97% increase from the current method of calculating targets.

Maldon MP, Sir John Whittingdale, said: "I am deeply concerned that the Government are going to impose mandatory housing requirements on local authorities, removing the ability of local residents to decide the appropriate level of development. 

"I am also very much aware of the concern that already exists about the scale of development that is already taking in Maldon and Heybridge as well as with applications to build more houses in Latchingdon and Althorne and Chelmsford City Council's proposed development of over 3,000 houses at Hammonds Farm outside Danbury. 

"This will simply add to the pressure on our roads, doctors' surgeries, and schools, as well as making the proposed closure of St Peter's Hospital even more nonsensical. 

"While I accept that there is a need for more homes, this must be matched by investment in the necessary infrastructure either by the developers or by the public sector." 

Rayner spoke in Parliament on Tuesday to defend the building plans, saying Labour's plan to "strengthen Section 106 agreements", which can force developers to consider and contribute to local infrastructure, will mitigate the impact of new homes on the community.

A spokesperson for Maldon District Council said, "The council is aware of the Government's publication of the draft National Planning Policy Framework and proposed changes to the Standard Methodology for calculating housing need. 

"These are out to consultation for eight weeks during which time the council will determine the likely impacts to the District and whether it wishes to respond to the consultation."