The Oxford Martin School is hosting a public event in Oxford on 28 May 2026 to examine the progress of the UK government’s housing promises. The discussion will bring together experts to assess if current strategies are enough to address the ongoing housing crisis that continues to impact families across the country.
As of January 2026, the government had delivered approximately 309,600 net additional homes since July 2024. While this marks a start, it represents only about 20.6% of the 1.5 million home target set for the current parliamentary term. The event aims to explore whether the current approach, including the major rewrite of planning rules from December 2025, is sufficient to meet these goals.
The panel will feature five experts, including Professor John Muellbauer, who has proposed a two-pronged property tax reform. His plan suggests replacing top Council Tax bands with a 0.5% annual wealth tax and introducing a 1% land value tax on certain land types, which could potentially raise over £14 billion. Other speakers include Professor Eric Beinhocker from INET Oxford, Stephen Aldridge from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sam Bloomer from Shelter, and author Shiv Malik.
The discussion comes at a time when the housing sector faces significant challenges. In February 2026, average private rents in the UK reached £1,374 per month, with many renters spending over a third of their income on housing costs. Additionally, a record 175,990 children are currently living in temporary accommodation. The panel will also consider the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which begins in phases from 1 May 2026 and aims to abolish no-fault evictions.
The public event will take place from 5:00pm to 6:15pm at 34 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BD. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear experts evaluate whether these reforms and the speculative builder model for housing supply can provide real solutions for families struggling to find decent homes.
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