INDUSTRY NEWS 5
Vast majority of families cannot afford new homes, says Shelter
Eight in ten families cannot afford a new home, and more than half of those that can have experienced major problems with their properties, according to a new report from the housing charity Shelter. The report revealed that, even when
utilising the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, typical new homes are out of reach for eight in ten (83 per cent) of working, private renting families across the country. The West Midlands ranked as the worst hit region, with 93 per cent of families not able to afford an averagely-priced new home. Alongside being unaffordable, it appears
that many new build homes are also of a low quality. In a YouGov survey for the charity, half (51 per cent) of new home owners said they had experienced major problems with their properties, including issues with construction, unfinished fittings and faults with utilities. The Shelter report warned that the current
housing system will never work for ordinary families because it rewards developers and land owners more interested in trading land at high prices than in building homes. Graeme Brown, Shelter’s interim chief
executive, commented on the release: “Big developers and land traders are making millions from a rigged system, while families struggle with huge renting costs and have to give up on owning a home of their own.” “For decades,” he continued, “we’ve
relied on this broken system and, despite the sweeteners offered to developers to build the homes we need, it simply hasn’t worked.” He said that the only way to fix the crisis is
“for the Government to champion a bold new approach which responds to communi- ties.” “Until this happens,” he added, “millions of ordinary families across the country will continue to pay the price.”
Housing and Planning Minister Gavin Barwell recently discussed the housing White Paper at an industry event held in Medway, where he called for “allies” in solving the housing crisis. In addition to speaking at the event,
which was co-hosted by CIH and HouseMark, the Minister also toured three development sites across Kent and Essex which “demonstrate the diversity of the measures set out and their potential to deliver a housing market that, works for everyone,” said DCLG. In a brief introduction, the Minister
reiterated his desire to work with all organisations to solve the housing crisis. “I am a man in need of allies,” he told
delegates. “I have spoken to many organi- sations and individuals since I became Housing Minister, and the key thing I have learned is that there is no silver bullet to solve the housing crisis, and that a series of interventions are required.” Held on 21 February, the event in
Birmingham was part of a regional tour of events following the launch of the White Paper.
SHELTER’S ‘NEW CIVIC HOUSEBUILDING’ MANIFESTO
Following its research on the struggle to achieve home ownership, Shelter has unveiled a ‘manifesto’ entitled New Civic Housebuilding, promising a “new model of housebuilding to deliver genuinely affordable, high-quality homes.” Shelter commented: “It often feels like nothing can solve England’s housing
shortage. The choices seem too drastic, too unpopular, and too expensive. Even where tough reforms are made and political capital is spent, the results don’t seem to change. To build enough homes – beautiful, locally affordable homes with appropriate infrastructure – we need a new vision. New Civic Housebuilding is a way to build the homes we need, enabled by a fairer trade-off between windfalls for landowners and benefits for communities.”
THE SITES As part of the tour, the Minister visited housebuilding sites across Kent. Commenting on the tour, Barwell said:
“It has been a great opportunity to visit three exciting developments across the South East of England today. “All of these sites reflect the key priori-
ties for this Government, and these developers are leading the way in efforts to fix our broken housing market.”
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Barwell “in need of allies” at White Paper event
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