Bertie Ballinger: We now have common sense housing policies we can believe in

Bertie Ballinger is the Deputy Chairman for Fundraising of the Worcester Conservatives.

On Monday, 6th October, Conservative Home published an article I wrote outlining some housing policies I hoped to see at Party Conference. I wanted to see a clear commitment to combating urban sprawl on the green belt, to building up rather than out, and to ensuring that Conservative housing policy maintains strong environmental protections. New developments should be green and full of life, ensuring that access to nature is not reserved only for the wealthiest in our society.

While Party Conference didn’t answer all the specific questions I posed to James Cleverly, what emerged was far better than I had expected. Kemi Badenoch and her team presented a set of genuinely common-sense housing policies that Conservatives can proudly campaign on.

One of the most significant policy announcements came from Kemi herself: a Conservative government would remove stamp duty entirely. Under David Cameron, during his opposition years announced that the Conservatives would remove stamp duty for first-time buyers (up to £250,000). This was later implemented by Labour just before the 2010 general election. But this permanent removal would go even further. It would achieve two key things. First, it would free up housing stock by removing the financial barrier for those with larger homes who want to downsize to a more suitable property. Second, it would boost the local economy by allowing movers to reinvest savings into their homes and communities.

Currently, 15 per cent of homeowners want to downsize and in London, that figure rises to 25 per cent. Abolishing stamp duty removes the financial penalty that stops many from doing so. For the wider economy, this means homebuyers spending more locally. Around 17 per cent of buyers spend between £2,500 and £5,000 on renovations, 30 per cent spend over £10,000, and six per cent spend over £25,000. Home buying isn’t just about getting people on the ladder; it’s about circulating money back into local small businesses.

Also announced at the Conference was the First-Time Bonus, a £5,000 contribution towards the deposit on a person’s first home. This bonus would be funded through a redirection of the individual’s National Insurance contributions from their first job, accessible after five years. The challenges faced by first-time buyers are well known: the cost-of-living crisis, rising house prices, and a shortage of affordable new builds. The First-Time Bonus is a common-sense Conservative solution, rewarding those in work who pay their taxes and helping them take that vital first step onto the property ladder.

Sir James Cleverly rightly said that we must “reject the false choice between low-rise sprawl into the green belt and Soviet tower blocks.” Urban sprawl is a growing problem, not only for those in the countryside seeing their landscape disappear, but also for city dwellers on the edge of development. Access to nature should not be a privilege of the wealthy few; it should be available to everyone. The Conservatives are not proposing high-rises in the countryside, but a sensible shift from building out to building up. A Conservative housing policy should prioritise brownfield development first, protecting our green-belt land for future generations.

One area that requires careful thought is the proposed review of DEFRA’s quango departments, such as Natural England. While I agree that some environmental red tape can be streamlined to speed up housebuilding, it is vital that we do not lose essential environmental protections in the process. The Biodiversity Net Gain policy, which ensures that developers leave nature better than they found it, is working well. Future Conservative housing policy must continue to uphold that principle, a planning system that is faster and simpler, but also robust and environmentally responsible.

It has been a month now since the announcements made at Conference. The difference this has made in campaigning in noticeable. Morale has returned to the party and its volunteers. There are now policies that I can truly campaign for, policies that can help restore trust in the Conservative Party and deliver a greener, fairer housing future for all. Now it’s time to start knocking on doors, delivering leaflets, and working towards that future Conservative government.