Tories claim slashing red tape could cut new house costs by £50,000, as Reform UK accuses them of policy theft

The Conservative party is proposing significant regulatory reforms aimed at reducing the cost of building new homes, with claims that these measures could cut the price of a new house by up to £50,000. This initiative is part of the party's broader strategy to address the housing crisis by increasing supply and making homeownership more accessible. The proposals include scrapping the Future Homes Standard and Part L of the Housing Regulations, which the party asserts are contributing to inflated building costs. The Future Homes Standard, introduced in 2025, mandates higher energy efficiency standards for new homes, while Part L of the Building Regulations sets requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings. The Conservatives argue that these 'ideological net zero rules' alone have added more than £30,000 to the cost of constructing a new home. This figure is supported by local government viability assessments. For example, Birmingham City Council's "Net Zero Plan Supporting Evidence Report" from September 7, 2023, indicated that improved efficiency, heat pumps, and solar panels could increase the cost of a new detached home by as much as £30,789. The London Borough of Lewisham's "Viability Study 2022," published on May 17, 2022, estimated that net zero rules would increase build costs by 15 percent. These proposed changes come as the Conservative party, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, faces scrutiny from Reform UK, a political party advocating for lower taxes and reduced immigration, which has accused the Conservatives of adopting policies previously announced by Reform UK. The Conservative party's announcement also follows previous pledges, such as scrapping stamp duty on family homes, to assist individuals in purchasing their first properties. Stamp duty is a tax paid on property purchases, and its abolition on family homes is intended to reduce the upfront cost for buyers. The party's strategy focuses on "radical supply-side reforms" to ensure the necessary volume of new homes is constructed. Further plans revealed by the Conservatives include the potential abolition of the Environment Agency and Natural England, as reported in overnight news releases. The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England, while Natural England is a non-departmental public body responsible for protecting and improving England's natural environment. These proposed "supply-side reforms" are intended to remove "unnecessary net-zero housing red tape" that the party believes is hindering developers and inflating housing prices. The party's stance suggests a significant shift in environmental and building regulations, prioritizing the acceleration of housing development and cost reduction over existing net-zero mandates in construction, a move that could signal a departure from commitments made under the UK's legally binding net-zero target.