Winchester T: 01962 893 893 F: 01962 893 883
London T: 020 7812 6490 F: 020 7812 6677
info@remarkable-engagement.co.uk
Find out more about Localism visit localism-agenda.com
Winchester T: 01962 893 893 F: 01962 893 883
London T: 020 7812 6490 F: 020 7812 6677
info@remarkable-engagement.co.uk
Find out more about Localism visit localism-agenda.com
Two reports published in the past week have highlighted the depth of the housing crisis facing the Government.
On Friday, the Home Builder's Federation (HBF) New Housing Pipeline: Q2 2100 Report found that just over 25,000 residential planning permissions were granted in England in the second quarter of 2011, the second lowest number of the past five years and a decline of over 8,000 - nearly 25% - from the first quarter. In all, 517 projects secured detailed planning permission, down from 163 in the first quarter. Across Great Britain, 595 projects received planning permission, down from 778 in the first quarter.
The HBF forecast that 60,000 residential permissions are required per quarter in order to meet projected housing need.
The statistics appear to strengthen independent forecasting by the National Housing Federation (NHF), published on Monday, which suggests that home ownership in England will slump to just 63.8% over the next decade, the lowest level since the mid 1980s.
The NHF attributes this decline to a number of factors, including high deposits, high house prices and strict lending criteria. The report warns that the "housing market will be plunged into an unprecedented crisis" as these factors combine with steep rises in the private rented sector, high waiting lists for affordable housing and what it terms a "chronic under-supply" of homes.
Housing delivery will be one of the Localism Bill's strongest tests, as it abolishes the previous Government's Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) in favour of a more localised approach to forecasting housing need.
The Government has maintained that the RSSs failed to deliver the required number of homes, and that the Localism Bill will see more homes delivered, as communities play a greater role in shaping their targets, and the New Homes Bonus rewards local planning authorities for new homes built.
The Localism Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent later on this year. The draft National Planning Policy Framework - currently being consulted - is due to be published in 2012.
You are here: Home / New reports shed light on depth of housing crisis