More homes were delivered last year than in any year since 1987 – the 7th year in a row the number homes delivered has increased.
According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 243,770 homes were delivered in 2019 to 2020 – more than at any point in the last 33 years.
The development of new build homes contributing significantly to this number as 90% of new homes were delivered in this period. An additional 2,130 communal dwellings were added to the housing stock, including more than 1,700 student accommodation units.
The government’s ‘change of use’ reforms have made available almost 27,000 new homes.
Since 2010 more than 1.8 million homes have been delivered across England, supported by government investment including the £3.9 billion allocated through the Housing Infrastructure Fund, the existing £9 billion Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes programme, and the government’s Help to Buy schemes.
The government has been working is closely with industry to support home building during the pandemic. In June, the Housing Secretary announced the extension of planning permissions to ensure work temporarily disrupted by Covid restrictions could continue where possible.
Measures were also introduced to speed up planning appeals and to allow more flexible working hours for builders on site, helping them to continue building much-needed new homes in a safe environment.
“The pandemic has posed significant challenges for home building but this government will continue to support the industry and the £20 billion investment announced at the Spending Review will ensure we deliver the homes this country needs. In the longer term, our overhaul of the planning system will deliver even more high-quality, sustainable homes in the communities which need them most.”
– Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP
The government continues to support home building and this week in the Spending Review announced nearly £20 billion of investment in housing – the single biggest investment in new homes in England’s history.
This includes a National Home Building Fund, investing £7.1 billion over four years to shake up the housing market by backing smaller developers, unlocking brownfield land, and supporting innovative construction techniques such as modular housing. This will unlock up to 860,000 new homes.
And more than £12 billion in affordable housing will be invested over the next five years, the largest investment in affordable housing in a decade, which will provide up to 180,000 new homes across the country and unlock a further £38 billion in public and private investment in affordable housing.
In August the government published Planning for The Future, setting out reforms to the country’s outdated planning system to deliver the high-quality, sustainable homes that communities need.
The new numbers show the continued progress being made by the industry to deliver more homes, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, Stewart Baseley said. Home builders have delivered more homes seven years in a row, increasing the number of homes built by 42% in 5 years.
Delivering new homes generates huge investment in infrastructure and amenities in communities, benefiting both new and existing residents. The construction industry is also creating tens of thousands of new jobs each year and boosting economies across the country. Looking ahead, building more high quality, environmentally friendly homes can play a major part in supporting the economy as the country recovers from the impacts of coronavirus.
Image: Daventry, Northamptonshire, November 2020 / @ REET