Massive increase in housing supply despite wider uncertainties

Supply up 93% in 6 years, providing huge social and economic boost

Official figures released today show that there were 241,130 net additions to the housing stock last year - of which 214k were new build completions - the highest number since the 1980’s. They show that the unprecedented increase in housing supply of recent years has continued despite the ongoing political and economic uncertainties. The figures mean that in the past six years, housing supply has almost doubled (up 93%) since a low of just over 124k in 2012/13. Over a million homes have been added to the housing stock in the past five years.

A separate report released today by the Home Builders Federation and Glenigan suggests that, assuming a level of stability, these increases will continue. The latest Housing Pipeline report, that measures the number of outline planning permissions granted, shows that almost 380,000 permissions were granted in England in the year to June. These permissions, that in the main will be built over the next three or four years once processed by the planning system, demonstrate the commitment of the house building industry to delivering the Government’s housing targets by maintaining record levels of investment in skilled workers and new sites for future development.

As we enter another election, the industry continues to call on politicians of all colours to prioritise housing policies – on the demand and supply side – such that they enable the challenging target to be met.

Speaking today, Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said; “Today’s numbers show the huge progress made by the industry as we look to meet the country’s housing need. Alongside much needed homes, the increases are boosting local economies up and down the country, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and delivering much needed investment in infrastructure. We need politicians to continue to work with us and develop policies that enable further increases to be delivered. We need to see policies that ensure buyers can buy and that enough land comes forward in the right places quickly and efficiently. We also need to see more support for SME builders and specialist providers to ensure the supply base continues to grow. The industry is absolutely committed to delivering the high quality, environmentally friendly homes that people across the country’s communities need.”

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For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve or Claire on 020 7960 1606 or 020 7960 1614. Or on email: steve.turner@hbf.co.uk / claire.coward@hbf.co.uk 

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 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. The net additions to the housing stock numbers, published each autumn, are the measure against which Government sets its housing targets and are the only reliable barometer of housing supply.

NET HOUSING SUPPLY IN ENGLAND, 2000-2019