Figures released today reveal the number of house building completions in England fell to a record low in 2010, down 13% on 2009. Just 102,570 new homes were completed - the lowest number since 1923 – at a time when the country is already experiencing an acute housing shortage. The figures are published on the same day as details of the New Homes Bonus, which the new Government hopes will incentivise Local Authorities to build more homes. The NHB is a key plank in the proposed new planning system, clarity on which house builders and Local Authorities have been pressing for since the old system was in effect abolished weeks in to the new Government’s term in office. This ‘policy vacuum’ has seen Local Authority planning approvals fall throughout 2010 – more details of which will be revealed on Monday when HBFs latest Housing Pipeline report is published – at a time when five million people languish on Local Authority housing waiting lists and the average age of a first time buyer has rocketed. Household formation projections show that 232,000 new homes need to be built in England each year to 2030 to meet demand. “Today’s figures reveal the extent of the housing crisis and we need real action now to prevent the crisis deepening. “The problem is that we have a planning system in the midst of radical change, expensive and unnecessary red tape and a shortage of mortgage availability. If we are going to weather this perfect storm, tackle the housing shortage and produce growth across the country we need early action to resolve and simplify planning, reduce regulation and encourage lenders to lend again “The New Homes Bonus is a key part of this and going to be a very important way of incentivising local authorities and communities to enable more homes to be built in their areas. We welcome the detail published today, but this alone is no silver bullet and more action is needed.” For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve Turner on 020 7960 1606 / 07919 307 760 or steve.turner@hbf.co.uk Follow us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/homebuildersfed Notes to Editors: 1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the representative body of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk 2. CLG statistical release here http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1845606.jpg
