UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
06/12/2017
Builders Doubt Govt Will Meet 2020 Housing Targets - Survey
UK house builders are sceptical over the Government's target of delivering one million new homes by 2020, according to a new survey.
Research carried out for industry consultant McBains has revealed the construction rate of new homes across the UK has fallen since the EU referendum.
Out of a poll of more than 400 companies, 38% have increased their output over the last year, compared to 50% of firms when asked the same question during a survey in May 2016.
In addition, less than one in three think the government will meet its housebuilding targets, while more than one in three expect Brexit to affect their ability to recruit skilled labour.
Overall, 30% of housebuilders think the government's ambition of building a million homes by 2020 will be achieved.
When asked what the biggest issue is facing the company at the moment in terms of restricting the amount they can build, 28% of respondents cited land availability while 24% said skills shortages.
On what they think the government should do to increase housebuilding, 36% of respondents said it should release more publicly-owned land while 32% think the government should incentivise large construction companies to develop more quickly.
However, 52% of builders said they were optimistic about the state of the housing market overall (18% are very optimistic) in addition to 65% of respondents in London.
Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains, said the survey shows the shadow of Brexit "still looms large" over the housebuilding industry.
"Uncertainty over the terms of EU withdrawal are having a real impact, with the survey showing a weakening of demand because UK investors are biding their time on committing to new projects," he said.
"Not enough land is the reason most housebuilders think the government's target for a million new homes to be built by 2020 will not be achieved.
"The industry was hoping for the Budget to provide a shot in the arm for growth, such as freeing up more land like greenbelt and simplifying planning permission. Yet although the Chancellor promised to introduce planning reforms to ensure more land is made available, there was no detail on how this would be achieved."
(LM/MH)
Research carried out for industry consultant McBains has revealed the construction rate of new homes across the UK has fallen since the EU referendum.
Out of a poll of more than 400 companies, 38% have increased their output over the last year, compared to 50% of firms when asked the same question during a survey in May 2016.
In addition, less than one in three think the government will meet its housebuilding targets, while more than one in three expect Brexit to affect their ability to recruit skilled labour.
Overall, 30% of housebuilders think the government's ambition of building a million homes by 2020 will be achieved.
-- Advertisement --
When asked what the biggest issue is facing the company at the moment in terms of restricting the amount they can build, 28% of respondents cited land availability while 24% said skills shortages.
On what they think the government should do to increase housebuilding, 36% of respondents said it should release more publicly-owned land while 32% think the government should incentivise large construction companies to develop more quickly.
However, 52% of builders said they were optimistic about the state of the housing market overall (18% are very optimistic) in addition to 65% of respondents in London.
Michael Thirkettle, Chief Executive of McBains, said the survey shows the shadow of Brexit "still looms large" over the housebuilding industry.
"Uncertainty over the terms of EU withdrawal are having a real impact, with the survey showing a weakening of demand because UK investors are biding their time on committing to new projects," he said.
"Not enough land is the reason most housebuilders think the government's target for a million new homes to be built by 2020 will not be achieved.
"The industry was hoping for the Budget to provide a shot in the arm for growth, such as freeing up more land like greenbelt and simplifying planning permission. Yet although the Chancellor promised to introduce planning reforms to ensure more land is made available, there was no detail on how this would be achieved."
(LM/MH)
Latest Construction News
05/02/2025
Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) and ECF, a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse, have selected Vinci as the preferred contractor for Phase 1 of Stockport 8, a £350 million residential development west of Stockport town centre.
The decision follows a competi
05/02/2025
Vistry Group has finalised contracts for a significant housing development in Hinckley, Leicestershire, securing outline planning permission to deliver 475 new homes in the area.
The development, located east of Stoke Road and north of Normandy Way in the town's northern region, has a projected val
05/02/2025
Wilten Construction has been awarded a second Design and Build contract at Gateway 14 by client Gateway 14 Ltd and Jaynic.
The project involves the development of a state-of-the-art, three-storey Skills and Innovation Centre spanning 35,000 sq ft in the heart of Gateway 14. Designed to achieve BREE
05/02/2025
Knowsley Council has approved a major housing development in Kirkby, giving the green light to 800 new energy-efficient homes in the town's centre.
The decision also secures £7.7 million in Section 106 contributions from developer Barratt David Wilson Homes, further boosting local investment.
The
05/02/2025
Keepmoat Homes has announced plans to invest over £50 million in three new housing developments across Calderdale, aiming to deliver more than 200 new homes.
The developments, undertaken in partnership with Calderdale Council, form part of the North Halifax Transformation Programme, a local authori
05/02/2025
Essential renewal work at Skerne Road level crossing in Driffield has been completed. Over a six-day period, engineers replaced decades-old equipment, installing a state-of-the-art operating system, replacing the level crossing deck, and resurfacing the road.
The newly installed operating system is
05/02/2025
Construction firm GRAHAM is currently carrying out essential restoration work at the National Railway Museum in York, replacing the Grade II listed roof structure at Station Hall.
Originally built between 1875 and 1877 as a goods station, Station Hall now houses the museum’s six royal carriages.
05/02/2025
Mezzanine floors are commonly associated with additional storage or expanded floor space, but did you know they can also have a profound impact on employee productivity and morale? At Doity Engineering, we specialise in designing and installing mezzanine floors for
05/02/2025
Construction work is commencing on a new solar array at Weeton Barracks in Lancashire that will generate over one third of the site’s energy needs.
The work has been funded under the British Army’s Project Prometheus, a scheme that is increasing renewable energy across the army estate through inst
05/02/2025
The regeneration of Hartlepool's waterfront has reached a significant milestone with a £631,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The funding will support the development phase of the 'Tides of Change' project, aimed at transforming the visitor experience at the Museum of Hartlepool a
