Public support needed to tackle 'housing crisis'
Public support is essential if house builders are to play their part in resolving the UK's housing crisis, the industry has warned.With demand in desirable parts of the country continuing to outstrip supply, the country needs more houses.But the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has said local communities are often unwilling to have new developments on their doorsteps."We need to build more homes consistently to take the pressure off affordability," warned John Slaughter, director of external affairs at the HBF. "That does require taking the public with us in terms of the benefits in providing them housing."Most people accept that more houses need to be built, but a recent survey by Saint Consulting revealed that 83 per cent of people were opposed to new developments in their area.Mr Slaughter said this was consistent with the experiences of his members."There's an onus on all the parties involved to have a clearer communication process about what they [house builders] are seeking to do," he added.Lack of affordable housing remains a major concern despite the recent increases in the cost of borrowing.The problem is especially acute in rural communities, where young people are often unable to afford to buy because demand from investors has driven up prices.
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