AUDIO NEWS: Steve Reed doubles down on housing target and tradespeople join forces for DIY SOS

Housing Secretary pledges to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, builder who mocked his local councillor is still waiting for court date and tradespeople turn up in force for DIY SOS reveal

The newly appointed Housing Secretary, Steve Reed has doubled down on the government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes by 2029.

Reed told the BBC that the only way out of the housing crisis was to “build, baby build”. 

Industry experts have repeatedly said that the government faces an uphill battle to achieve its ambitious housing target.

According to the BBC’s Verify Housing Tracker, the number of new homes in England fell in 2024, however, applications to build new homes have risen in the last six months.

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A builder based in Trowbridge who mocked his local councillor by putting up a gargoyle, is still awaiting a court date in his long-running planning dispute.

Michael Thomas has been accused of breaking an enforcement notice issued by Wiltshire Council by continuing to work on the conversation of a former pizza takeaway.

The case which has dragged on since 2023, was due in court in September, but was again delayed last week.

Thomas erected the gargoyle of deputy mayor Steward Palmen when his original planning permission was rejected.

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Tradespeople turned out in force to witness the big reveal of DIY SOS for Children In Need.

The two-week project has doubled the building size of The Joshua Tree, a children’s cancer charity.

Charity CEO, Richard Driffield said the project was “fantastic”.

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