Builders: 200,000 new homes a year impossible
29/04/2015
Housebuilders have claimed that it would be impossible to build the 200,000 new homes in the UK each year, the amount pledged by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP.
A survey from estate agents Knight Frank shows that just 9% of the 160 housebuilders asked believe the 200,000 target is achievable, with two thirds thinking that the maximum number of houses that will be able to be built per year is nearer 180,000.
The survey also asked the builders what measures they think the government should take to ensure more housing. 82% believed putting more resources into local planning departments is the most important, followed by improving training in the industry and opening up access to public land.
Head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, Grainne Gilmore, said:
“In the run-up to the election, all political parties agree that the delivery of more new homes is a priority. Yet more than two-thirds of housebuilders believe that under current market conditions, the maximum number of units that can be sustainably delivered each and every year is 180,000 or less.
“Policymakers, especially those in power after the election, may want to heed the calls from housebuilders to beef up planning departments in local authorities, plough more investment into skills and training in the construction sector and provide better access to public sector land, moves which the housebuilding industry is signalling could move the country closer to building enough homes for all.”
Need financial Advice?
If you have any personal finance questions related to this news article, then please contact our financial advisers. You can get in touch by asking a question online, calling us on 0800 092 1245, or by arranging a visit.
Share this..
Related stories
Budget 2010: When is a first-time buyer not a first-time buyer?
The UK government today announced stamp duty relief for first-time buyers acquiring properties up to a value of £250,000. However, before the ink is even dry on Alistair Darling budget report the move has come in for significant criticism due in the main to the government's definition of a first-time buyer. According to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in order to qualify for the stamp duty relie...
Read MoreFirst-time buyers shunning parental help
First-time buyers are now less and less inclined to ask for parental help, according to a new report. The survey from the Abbey First Time Buyer Unit found that 9.7 per cent of young people surveyed expected financial assistance from their parents - a drop from 23 per cent when a similar survey was conducted six months ago. There was also a decline in the number who expected their parents to act a...
Read MoreReport Shows That Bungalows Are Holding Their Value
While they may be the butt of many a joke, they may be seen as homes for the elderly but the humble bungalow looks set to fair much better than traditional housing in the current market turmoil. Figures from the Communities and Local Government (CLG) confirm that bungalows have kept their value better than most, showing a mere 0.6% drop in value over the last few months, where as semi-detached ho...
Read MoreHidden payments revealed in Home Information Packs
Promoted by the UK government as the saviour of the UK property market but ridiculed by estate agents and surveyors as a complete waste of time, Home Information Packs (HIPs) are in news today after an undercover investigation by Channel 4. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the providers of some HIPs packages are working with estate agents and offering the potential for additional fees to be added...
Read MoreUK repossessions on the increase
A report by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has today confirmed the dire situation for the UK property market. A total of 13,161 homes were repossessed in the third quarter of 2008 which represents a 92% increase on the corresponding period in 2007. There are serious concerns that the overall trend in repossessions is set to move sharply higher as the property market comes under more and mo...
Read More