A major estate agency has called on the Government to make build-to-rent central to its housing strategy, warning that the 1.5 million homes target is unachievable if it fails to encourage investment in the sector.

Andy Jones (pictured), Group Director of LRG Living Markets Sales, Lettings & BTR, says build-to-rent has been “miscast as exclusive rather than mainstream” and is the fastest route to delivering homes at scale, but urgent reform of planning policy and tax certainty for institutional investors is needed.

At today’s pace, it would take 70 years for BTR to serve 30 per cent of renters.”

Jones says: “At today’s pace, it would take 70 years for BTR to serve 30 per cent of renters. At 60,000 homes a year, it takes 20.”

His call comes as Labour has come together for its annual party conference, with housing delivery dominating discussions after planning applications fell to their lowest level since 1979 and viability issues threaten to derail the Government’s flagship new homes policy.

The data shows that planning submissions for multi-family BTR have collapsed by more than 75 per cent since their peak, with nearly 4,000 consented homes sitting idle due to regulatory uncertainty and viability concerns.

Jones claims that capital is ready to invest, but policy uncertainty is forcing investors to look elsewhere. “International investors have made clear that while they hold billions in capital ready to deploy, the UK has become too uncertain compared to Europe.”

FIVE KEY REFORMS

He is calling for five key reforms: a clear government strategy placing BTR at the centre of housing policy; long-term fiscal certainty, including multi-year tax stability at Budget; streamlined planning with rewards for pace of delivery on large sites; faster build-out through reformed building safety gateways; and advance tax clearances covering VAT and SDLT.

Jones argues BTR bridges the gap between unaffordable ownership and ineligible affordable housing, providing secure homes for those in the “missing middle”. With the Renters’ Rights Bill raising management standards, he says BTR already meets those requirements at scale.

The sector has delivered more than 130,000 completed homes with another 160,000 in the pipeline, but Jones warns that without reform, “pipeline is not delivery” and the Government risks missing its housing target while squandering billions in international investment.