The Great British Build-off

[Odds]

Some local councils in England would need to see at least a five-fold increase in new housing to meet government targets, analysis by BBC Verify suggests.

Click on the link, add your postcode and find out how many new homes were built in your region last year - almost 200 fewer houses were built in our neighbourhood than government targets demand, and Labour have a huge task ahead of them.

The new government has described its housebuilding objective as "hugely ambitious" and that is no exaggeration. To deliver 1.5 million homes, defined as "net additional dwellings", over five years implies a strike rate of about 300,000 a year - a number not achieved since the 1970s. Most housing experts agree planning reform is necessary...however: The construction industry has warned it is dealing with a chronic shortage of skilled workers. The Home Builders Federation has cited aging workers and Brexit as some of the factors behind shortages, and the CITB states the sector needs to attract the equivalent of 50,300 extra workers per year to meet the levels of work expected.

The Competition and Markets Authority concluded in February 2024 "private developers produce houses at a rate at which they can be sold without needing to reduce their prices".

How can the government hit those trgets without recruiting cheap migrant labour or further encroachment ito the environment?

 

[transam]

Well some thing has to be done

The UK needs 1.5 million homes in order to house the migrants

Other infrastructure will also need building in order to deal with the migration

Hospitals
Schools
Mosques
Hotels
Etc

 

[Nwgs2]

Some local councils in England would need to see at least a five-fold increase in new housing to meet government targets, analysis by BBC Verify suggests.

Click on the link, add your postcode and find out how many new homes were built in your region last year - almost 200 fewer houses were built in our neighbourhood than government targets demand, and Labour have a huge task ahead of them.

The new government has described its housebuilding objective as "hugely ambitious" and that is no exaggeration. To deliver 1.5 million homes, defined as "net additional dwellings", over five years implies a strike rate of about 300,000 a year - a number not achieved since the 1970s. Most housing experts agree planning reform is necessary...however: The construction industry has warned it is dealing with a chronic shortage of skilled workers. The Home Builders Federation has cited aging workers and Brexit as some of the factors behind shortages, and the CITB states the sector needs to attract the equivalent of 50,300 extra workers per year to meet the levels of work expected.

The Competition and Markets Authority concluded in February 2024 "private developers produce houses at a rate at which they can be sold without needing to reduce their prices".

How can the government hit those trgets without recruiting cheap migrant labour or further encroachment ito the environment?

I’m seeing local councils CPO empty houses and renovate to a high standard.

I’m not saying this is the answer, far from it, but there’s still a lot of empty properties to go at.

After that, they can sub out house builds to large developers, because the developers can run a business properly and will come in on price.

 

[Odds]

I’m seeing local councils CPO empty houses and renovate to a high standard.

I’m not saying this is the answer, far from it, but there’s still a lot of empty properties to go at.

After that, they can sub out house builds to large developers, because the developers can run a business properly and will come in on price.

It's usually much simpler to demolish old housing stock than renovation. And it doesn't solve the labour shortage.

 

[Nwgs2]

It's usually much simpler to demolish old housing stock than renovation. And it doesn't solve the labour shortage.

It’s hard to demolish a mid terrace house.

The council/s have a work force. But can’t run a bath

Sub out to a large developer, it’s their problem then.

 

[gas112]

 

[Odds]

It’s hard to demolish a mid terrace house.

The council/s have a work force. But can’t run a bath

Sub out to a large developer, it’s their problem then.

How would they solve the shortage of skilled workers?
Large developers usually march in, chew gum, kick bricks and wait for the money to roll in

 

[Ihavenojob]

The main problem is that they want "homes" built. Most of the new builds seem to be squeezed in blocks of flats. People eventually want a house. Who aspires to raise a family in a 6th floor rabbit hutch ?

 

[diy_fun_uk]

I appreciate sometimes needs must, however why the feck anyone would choose to move into new build estates goodness only knows. Crammed in like proverbial sardines, often not an actual road between properties, more of a very wide path. Postage stamp gardens which fine will suit some. Crap buildings that goodness knows what they'll look like 20-30 years down the line.

I also appreciate it was a different time, however when you look at council and private estates built decades back, it's usually night and day re general property size, amount of land per property etc.

There are still some decent new build properties being built in terms of size, however they're at the premium end of the builders range.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Well some thing has to be done

The UK needs 1.5 million homes in order to house the migrants

Other infrastructure will also need building in order to deal with the migration

Hospitals
Schools
Mosques
Hotels
Etc

I read something the other day about a new scheme that has been built. As part of the proposal (that influenced council approval) the builder committed to constructing additional infrastructure to the tune of many millions, I think stuff like a school, health centre, shops.

None of it built. Can't be ar5ed finding the article but I think the builder cited downturn in the economy etc for not doing it, in short they can't afford it.

So folk that bought a house there thinking these things were following are fuming.

Good old UK. I used to laugh that new build estates were being thrown up with no fibre broadband. Should have been a mandatory requirement from years back.

 

[gas112]

few years back our local council didnt even know if they had recieved or spent the 11 million quid they where meant to have got from developers to help local infrastructure . It was all in the council minutes .
As for new build they got involved with taking a developer to court because of the standard of new builds on a private estate then a couple of weeks later they announced they were spending over a million quid buying houses to rent out .......off the same developer you couldnt really make it up

 

[Notch7]

house builds to large developers, because the developers can run a business properly and will come in on price.

they can run a business properly, shame they can’t build houses properly.

 

[gas112]

they can run a business properly, shame they can’t build houses properly.

probably down to all those A level chippys they employ

 

[Odds]

I read something the other day about a new scheme that has been built. As part of the proposal (that influenced council approval) the builder committed to constructing additional infrastructure to the tune of many millions, I think stuff like a school, health centre, shops.

None of it built. Can't be ar5ed finding the article but I think the builder cited downturn in the economy etc for not doing it, in short they can't afford it.

So folk that bought a house there thinking these things were following are fuming.

Good old UK. I used to laugh that new build estates were being thrown up with no fibre broadband. Should have been a mandatory requirement from years back.

A new estate is being built nearby where a foundry once stood. It's taken them about 10 years to get 'em up and running but still more are being added on as far as they can before they hit greenbelt land. Not seen inside the houses but i'll wager they're no bigger than other new builds in the area. Planning permission and surveys took years before a brick was laid down. Another development on the site of an old dye works has only just begun laying waste pipes and water services into the area, and they're going to put up some fancy apartments - eventually. They'll be fine for folk who're not too tall and not so stout.

I'd still prefer the houses they built around the turn of the 20th century, with room to stretch out and a garden where you can plant more than a herb box and a potted ficus. Some of them have wonderful stained glass in the front door and porch. Arts and Crafts should make a revival, as fas i'm concerned.

 

[denso13]

they can run a business properly, shame they can’t build houses properly.

There are huge risks for councils/HAs when it come to house building. Inflation is a killer, which doesn't affect private builders in the same way.