Can 70,000 homes shift the crisis?
Wednesday 2nd September, 2026
Andy Burnham’s £9bn council housebuilding programme could deliver 70,000 affordable homes, but that is less than 5% of the government’s 1.5 million-home target.
This gives Rightmove a natural chance to comment on what more housing means for buyers and renters across the UK.
1 Source:
Why have we flagged this?
Andy Burnham’s £9bn housing programme and the wider shortfall against the government’s target create a major housing-market story where you could share local listings, supply and demand data.
Get reactive idea inspiration
Thinking...
These are starting points for inspiration, not finished ideas.
Expert comment
Argue that housing targets must measure homes people can actually afford
Position the 1.5 million target as incomplete unless delivery is judged by affordability, location and tenure as well as volume.
Expert comment angle: Offer a Rightmove housing market expert to national property and politics desks with the view that headline numbers mean little if homes are built where demand is weakest or prices remain out of reach.
Why: It gives journalists a specific, consumer-focused test for whether the government’s plan is succeeding.
Data idea
Measure how many rentals meet affordable housing thresholds
Show the proportion of rental homes currently listed below the relevant Local Housing Allowance rates across England.
Data to investigate: Analyse your rental listing data to calculate the share of properties priced below Local Housing Allowance rates.
Why: It shows whether new affordable homes would address the real affordability gap facing renters, rather than simply increasing headline supply.
Newsjack
Create a live tracker for the government’s 1.5 million homes target
Build a simple public explainer showing the target, the 70,000 planned affordable homes and the local areas where buyers and renters are searching most.
Newsjack angle: Publish the tracker within days and pitch it to BBC, ITV, national newspapers and regional outlets as a practical way for the public to understand the gap between political promises and housing demand.
Why: It turns an abstract national target into a clear, visual consumer story using Rightmove’s authority in the property market.