Social Housing Sector Running Out Of Time To Meet Sustainability Targets

Nine in 10 social housing construction professionals believe the sector is in urgent need of new government guidelines if it is going to successfully meet sustainability targets. In a survey of 150 decision makers involved in the specification of building materials used for social housing developments, 88% agreed that the sector cannot wait for the pending Decarbonisation Fund and Decent Homes Standard review to define how it is going to become more sustainable. This guidance was expected to be included in the Social Housing Whitepaper which was released late last year, but it failed to clarify a number of key details the sector was waiting on. Read more on the Showhouse website.

https://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/social-housing-sector-running-out-of-time-to-meet-sustainability-targets/

Cost Of Housing Has Forced 41% Of Employees To Change Jobs

New research from Strutt & Parker has identified that the cost of housing is now one of the main considerations when people decide whether or not to accept a job, with many being forced to live further and further away from their place of work. Of their survey of 2,000 full-time employees, 85% of respondents cited the cost of housing as important in their decision, impacting job mobility and satisfaction. Add in the 41% who have left one or more jobs because of local housing costs, and it’s clear that affordability is a significant issue for those wishing to live close to their work. Read more on the Showhouse website.

https://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/cost-of-housing-has-forced-41-of-employees-to-change-jobs/

Housing Minister Admits No Starter Homes Have Been Built Since 2016

Kit Malthouse has admitted that the government will fail to keep its 2015 election promise to build 200,000 starter homes by 2020. In 2016, the government allocated £1.2 billion to the ‘starter homes’ programme, which aimed to build 200,000 properties exclusively for first-time buyers at a 20% discount on their market value. When asked how many starter homes had been built since 2016, the housing minister stated: “At the moment, none”. This comes as housebuilders admit that they are unable to keep up with demand for Help to Buy properties. Read more on the Showhouse website.

https://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/housing-minister-admits-no-starter-homes-have-been-built-since-2016/

Housebuilding Generates £38bn A Year And Supports 700k Jobs

The 74% increase in housebuilding activity in the past four years has provided a huge boost to the UK economy. Research shows that the house building industry in England and Wales is now worth £38bn a year and supports nearly 700,000 jobs. The report shows that last year the house building industry:

·         Supported 698k jobs, including 239k direct (18% of UK construction industry);

·         Generated £2.7bn in tax revenues (via SDLT, Corporation tax, NI, PAYE etc.);

·         Provided £841M towards infrastructure (incl £122m for new/improved schools);

·         Spent £11.7Bn with suppliers (90% of which stays in the UK);

·         Invested £12bn in land for new homes;

·         Agreed 50,000 affordable houses through s106 agreements worth over £4bn.

Read more on the Showhouse website.

https://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/housebuilding-generates-38bn-a-year-and-supports-700k-jobs/