Radical planning reform needed to hit 1.5m housebuilding target in England, Labour warned

The Centre for Cities says removing the discretionary element of the planning system would bring the UK in line with most developed economies. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Labour will miss its manifesto target of building 1.5m homes in England before the end of this parliament without more radical reform to the planning system, the thinktank the Centre for Cities has warned.

Keir Starmer put tackling housing affordability at the heart of his pitch to voters, promising to “get Britain building again”.