- Build Zone
Housebuilding in England hits highest level since 2007
Housebuilding in England has hit its highest level: The number of homes added in the UK increased by 2 per cent to 222,190 in 2017-18.
Housebuilding in England has hit its highest level: The number of homes added in the UK increased by 2 per cent to 222,190 in 2017-18
Housebuilding in England – Included in these figures is 195,290 new homes (the highest figure for ten years.) with the remainder coming from converting houses into flats and changing commericial or industrial buildings into domestic premises.
Despite falling short of the Government’s target of 300,000 it has still be praised by Ministers and Businesses amid Brexit deal woes over the last week.
James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Housing, said:
‘These figures are great news. But we are determined to do more to keep us on track to deliver the homes communities need. That’s why we have set out an ambitious package of measures to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. This includes an investment of more than £44billion, rewriting the planning rules and scrapping the borrowing cap so councils can deliver a new generation of council housing.’
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said:
‘It’s good to see that the number of homes has risen again. To end the crisis, it’s crucial this continues and that as many as possible are social homes.’
Stewart Baseley, at the Home Builders Federation, added:
‘Builders have continued to invest and increase output. The Government needs to continue to work with all parts of the sector if we are to hit the 300,000 target.’
However, the increase is slowing. While it rose by 2 per cent last year, it was up 15 per cent in 2016/17 and 11 per cent the previous year.
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