Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith is set to unveil what he calls the “biggest deregulation project in a generation” at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, pledging to cut the cost of new‑build homes and reduce supermarket bills by removing a “polluter pays” levy on packaging manufacturers. The plan, announced on 4 October 2026, also includes scrapping the Future Homes Standard and related building regulations that will require heat pumps or district heating from next year, a move that party researchers say could shave up to £30,789 from the price of a detached house but would lower annual energy bills by £2,715, with a pay‑back period of roughly 11 years.
A radical blueprint for housing and energy
Griffith will tell conference attendees that the current regulatory framework is “a cat’s cradle of complexity” and that it drives up the price of construction. He proposes abolishing the Future Homes Standard and the associated housebuilding rules that mandate low‑carbon heating systems, arguing that this will remove a £30,789 cost premium on detached homes and make home ownership more affordable. The same study cited by Birmingham City Council notes that the energy‑efficiency upgrades – heat pumps, solar panels and improved insulation – could cut household energy bills by £2,715 each year, meaning the extra upfront spend would be recouped after about eleven years. In addition, the Conservatives intend to scrap stamp duty on property purchases, a policy already part of their agenda, to further stimulate the market.
Tax simplification and business relief
The Treasury‑side of the proposal focuses on overhauling the tax system, which Griffith describes as “a cat’s cradle of complexity”. He argues that the time spent filling out returns or waiting on HMRC helplines “steals time away from your business, your family – the very reason you work so hard”. By simplifying the tax code and eliminating the extended producer responsibility levy that forces firms to shoulder the cost of packaging waste – a charge the party says imposes a £1.5 billion burden on businesses – the Conservatives hope to free up capital for growth and reduce the administrative load on firms.
Environmental restructuring and infrastructure drive
Environmental policy is also on the chopping block. Griffith will call for the abolition of Natural England and the Environment Agency, transferring their functions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins frames this as delivering “common sense for our countryside and the cost” amid rising food prices, a wave of farm closures and declining wildlife. The plan would also replace the existing Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a single, faster‑acting levy, a move shadow housing secretary Katie Lam says is needed because “building anything in this country is too expensive and it takes too long”.
Reactions and the road ahead
Lawrence Newport, co‑founder of the Looking for Growth campaign, described the proposals as “significant and radical”, adding that if implemented they would “drive down the cost of living, allow us to build again, and kickstart economic growth”. Helen Dickinson of the British Retail Consortium warned that it is “high time to review” packaging charges, while Karen Betts of the Food and Drink Federation noted the current framework “adds billions to the cost of making food and drink”. Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick accused the Conservatives of copying his party’s policies but argued they cannot match his pledge to raise the tax‑free personal allowance from £12,570 to £15,000 without cutting migrant welfare, net‑zero subsidies and the “ballooning benefits bill”.
Chancellor John Healey will present his first Budget on 28 October, a moment that will test the opposition’s claims against the government’s own fiscal plans. Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, has previously criticised the government’s “economic control” being eroded by privatisation, setting the stage for a clash over the future direction of the UK’s economy.
Why it Matters
If enacted, the deregulation package could reshape the cost landscape for homebuyers and consumers, potentially lowering the barrier to home ownership and reducing grocery expenses for millions. By cutting red tape and streamlining levies, the Conservatives aim to accelerate construction and infrastructure delivery, which could ease the chronic shortages that have driven up housing costs and delayed public projects. However, the success of these ambitions hinges on political will, the willingness of Parliament to approve the sweeping changes, and the ability to manage the environmental and social trade‑offs that come with loosening planning and climate regulations. The forthcoming Budget will reveal whether the government’s response aligns with the public’s appetite for affordability and growth, making this policy agenda a pivotal point in the next phase of the UK’s economic narrative.
