Ruby Herbert
National Chair of Labour Students
Lewis Warner
National Vice Chair of Labour StudentsOnly Green YIMBYism will solve the housing and climate crises, argue Ruby Herbert and Lewis Warner, National Chair and Vice Chair of Labour Students. They call for 1.5 million energy-efficient homes, backed by planning reforms, green infrastructure, and a skilled workforce, urging Labour to stand firm against NIMBY opposition.
The Labour Party, like some other parties, recognises the two existential crises facing young people: housing and climate change. But unlike other parties, Labour recognises that the two are intrinsically linked and that one cannot be solved without simultaneously addressing the other.
Generation Rent
Young people today face a housing crisis of many dimensions. Rent is sky-high, living conditions are poor, and the prospects of getting on the housing ladder are considerably lower than they were for previous generations. Stifling planning restrictions and constant surrendering to overrepresented NIMBY voices has held back housebuilding for decades. As a result, Britain now has 8 per cent fewer homes per person than the average European country, with a housing deficit of 4.3 million homes. It is no surprise that housing is the second top issue for young voters, and we have a simple request for the Government – just build more homes.
Embracing Green YIMBYism
The solution for the housing crisis is incredibly simple – rent will only get cheaper and homes more affordable if we build more. It is equally important that we build the right sort of homes – high-quality, energy-efficient homes designed with good access to shops, amenities, and local services. The environmental argument for new homes is clear – they produce 55 per cent less energy than existing properties, emit 60–71 per cent less carbon, and on average, reduce energy bills by 64 per cent. Heat pumps are 300–400 per cent more efficient than gas boilers, and solar panels pay for themselves within four years. If all homes were Energy Performance Certificate band C within 30 years, we could prevent an extra 97 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Density is also important, with a purpose-built flat having only a third of the annual carbon emissions as a detached house and encouraging the use of sustainable commuting via public transport. Britain mastered the design of the terraced house long ago, and we truly believe that a grand expansion of well-designed, energy-efficient, medium-density homes in every corner of the UK is vital to our efforts to tackle the dual crises of housing and climate change.
Labour’s Green Prosperity Plan and the publicly-owned energy company GB Energy embrace Green YIMBYism, with plans to double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind to reach Net Zero by 2030. Green infrastructure projects supported by a long-term skills strategy will protect young people’s futures, giving us sustainably built communities and tackling the threat of climate change.
Breaking Down Barriers (to housebuilding)
We warmly welcome Deputy PM and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner’s changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, which encourage local authorities across the UK to embrace the vision of thousands of new sustainable and affordable homes in well-serviced communities and include mandatory housing targets. Furthermore, we recognise the need for increases in both private and social housing. The Securing the Future of Council Housing Report clearly demonstrates that there is a cross-party desire to see new council homes built, and we would encourage cooperation between local and national government to achieve this. We also appreciate that Skills England will close the skills gap and ensure that 650,000 young people across the country are equipped with the training they need as architects, builders, and engineers to sustainably construct these new homes.
Final Thoughts: Build. Build. Build.
Despite these early successes, we recognise that the threat of NIMBYism is ever-present. The mandate for our second-largest-ever majority is clear: Get Britain Building Again by delivering 1.5 m high-quality, well-designed, and sustainable homes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s embrace of YIMBYism demonstrated a clear understanding of the housing crisis and promised a radical attitude towards homebuilding. We won that Election on that promise, and we must resist the calls from NIMBYs firmly planted on the property ladder and insulated from rent rises to water down our plans. We must deliver 300,000 homes every year, reform the planning process and stand firm against those who baselessly oppose our Green YIMBYism.
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