Home Builders’ Federation
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Latest property news
Builders claim councils blocking 70,000 new builds every year
The Government is already missing its housebuilding target, and now local authorities are reversing plans previously approved.
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Latest property news
Tougher regulation of house builders begins as new body begins work
Led by Tory MP Sophie Elphicke, the New Homes Quality Board is to introduce a code of practice and ombudsman later this year.
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Latest property news
Does Help to Buy make a difference to the property market?
Government's own data reveals that 128,328 homes were bought through the ISA-backed version of the Help to Buy scheme, proving most popular outside London.
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Latest property news
New housing consents highest since 2008
There was a noteworthy increase in the number of planning permissions granted in the third quarter of last year, up from 53,409 consents in the corresponding quarter in 2014, according to data released in the Home Builder’s Federation (HBF) and Glenigan’s latest Housing Pipeline report. The statement suggests that 242,819 permissions were granted in the 12 months to October, the highest ‘moving annual’ total since early 2008. According to the data, 181,000 new homes were constructed in 2014/15, which broadly equates to the number of planning permissions recorded some two to three years ago. However, the industry remains concerned that the ‘lag’ of turning permissions into homes is becoming lengthier. “Whilst the overall increase in outline permissions is welcome, most of these still have to navigate the complexities of the planning system before they can be built,” said Stewart Baseley (left), Executive Chairman of the HBF. “It is imperative we speed up the time it takes for applications to be processed to the point that builders can actually build if we are to deliver further increases in housing supply.” The Government is holding a consultation on proposals to fast-track planning applications and introduce competition into the planning process, with a…
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Guest Blogs
Let’s get Britain building!
Housing is currently at the very top of the political agenda. All the main parties now acknowledge that we face an acute housing crisis and need to increase supply. Over the past two years things have improved. All indicators are that there has been a steep increase in the number of homes being built. Output has risen from 110,000 homes a year to 130,000-140,000, the steepest increase for 40 years. But we are still a long way from delivering the 230,000 homes a year the country needs. Issues and solutions The short-term problem has been mortgage availability. Following the economic crash of 2007/08 people simply couldn’t afford the deposits required to secure a mortgage and if people can’t buy, builders can’t build. The longer-term constraint has been the planning system. It has not delivered enough land for the number of homes the country has needed for decades. We now have a Government clearly committed to increasing the number of homes built. We have pro-development policies introduced by the Coalition and new Conservative administrations – and indeed the Labour one before them. The improving economy has seen mortgage availability increase; whilst the Help to Buy scheme that allows buyers to buy…
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Housing Market
Sharp rise in new housing permissions
There has been a significant increase in the volume of housing permissions by local authorities in the last year, according to new figures published by the Home Builders’ Federation (HBF) and Glenigan. The latest HBF/Glenigan Housing Pipeline report reveals that 194,820 residential property permissions have been granted in 2014, ensuring the year saw the highest level of new housing starts in the UK since 2008. “Increasing housing delivery will provide the high quality homes our next generation needs, support thousands of companies up and down the land and create tens of thousands of jobs,” said Stewart Baseley (left), Executive Chairman of the HBF. However, he added that efforts still need to be made to ensure that the number of housing starts continue to rise in the years ahead, as the UK is currently still behind on the level of development needed to meet rising demand for new homes, fuelled in part by the Help to Buy scheme. Speeding up the rate at which permissions are granted is one of the keys to a significant, sustainable increase in housing supply, according to Baseley who highlighted that too many sites are ‘stuck’ in the planning system, with an estimated 150,000 plots at…
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