2019 Homebuilder Awards

Build 2019 Homebuilder Awards 32 Housebuilding Rates More than half of housebuilders increased the rate at which they built new homes over the last year and predict a further rise over the next 12 months, according to a new survey published today. Despite this, less than half of housebuilders think the Government target of building 300,000 homes a year on average by the mid 2020s is achievable • All respondents were asked what the biggest issues affecting the amount of homes they can build. The most cited issues were: land availability (55%); slow planning permission (49%) and skills short- ages (47%). • Less than half of respondents (48%) think the Government target of building 300,000 homes a year on average by the mid 2020s is achievable. 42% think it can be achieved with 11% undecided. • Of those who don’t think the target is achievable, the most popular reasons cited were: not enough available or appropriate land (49% of respondents); not enough skilled labour (40%); planning permission taking too long (39%); and non-availability of finance (32% – and 47% in London). • Of the homes to be built over the next 12 months, housebuilders expected one in five (22%) of these new homes to be classed as affordable homes for rent or sale. • When asked what one single thing housebuilders thought the Gov- ernment should prioritise for the industry to increase housebuilding, the most popular responses were: incentivise large construction companies to develop more expeditiously to dissuade them from holding onto land, such as introducing a land value tax (24% of respondents); and provide loan finance to help support small and medium sized developers build more homes(19%). Clive Docwra, Managing Director of McBains, commented on the findings and how they impact on the industry. he survey of more than 400 housebuilding companies in Eng- land was carried out for McBains, the leading construction consulting and design agency. More than half of respondents overall (57%) reported they had increased their rate of housebuilding over the last 12 months. Overall, housebuilders said they had built, on average, 201 homes over the last year. This was expected to rise to 297 over the next 12 months. However, respondents to the survey cited worries over land availability, slow planning permission and skills shortages as barriers to preventing them building more homes. Around half of respondents (48%) said these factors would also make it difficult for the government to meet its target of building 300,000 homes a year on average by the mid-2020s. The main findings of the survey are: • More than half of respondents overall (57%) reported they had in- creased their rate of housebuilding over the last 12 months, rising to 66% in London. 11% decreased their rate while for 32% the rate stayed the same. • Of those that stated a decrease, the most popular reasons were: not enough available or appropriate land(34% – and 44% in London); planning permission taking too long (34% – and 67% of respond- ents in London); and not enough skilled labour (34%). One in five respondents in London cited non-availability of finance. T Housebuilding Rates Increasing But Doubts Remain Over Government Housing Targets Being Met, New Survey Shows