4 INDUSTRY NEWS
FROM THE EDITOR
James Parker
The Government has tacitly accepted that the 1.5 million homes aren’t going to happen. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement revealed that the centre now expects there to be fewer than 1.3 million ‘cumulative net additions’ to the UK housing stock over the fi ve-year period to March 2030.
eeves tried to play down the gap between this fi gure and the 1.5 million manifesto promise as “touching distance,” and some might beg to differ. Others might also suggest that even that target looks extremely optimistic, if current conditions continue.
ON THE COVER
HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER
APRIL/MAY 2025
The overnment’s ‘independent fi nancial body’ the ffi ce for Budget Responsibility produced the more cautious 1.3 million prediction in its March Economic and Fiscal utlook, focused around the likely short-term contribution of housebuilding to Reeves’ hoped for but elusive growth in the economy. This was the OBR’s most optimistic scenario, however, and said that the increases will mainly take place between 2022 due to the time needed to identify sites, develop local plans and overcome “capacity constraints in the sector.”
The also said that the 12 year low in net additions in 2022 would somehow become 30,000 additions a year by the end of the decade.” The slightly underwhelming good news is that by this point, housebuilding would be contributing a whopping 0.2 to D somewhat more impressive however when you realise it’s .bn.
Update your SUPER-SIZED MODULAR
Profi ling Tide Construction’s 50-storey College Road project in Croydon – Europe’s tallest modular building yet
HBD_0405_2025
Covers.indd 1
© Simon Toplis Go to page 26
registration here: 17/04/2025 08:49
Commentators have understandably remarked that the OBR might be drastically underplaying the ‘capacity constraints’ in the housebuilding supply chain, if it assumes they will all be overcome within the next three years. Largely around skills and manpower shortages, these issues have to be quickly resolved the Education Department’s 00m training scheme is probably far from adequate, although it will hopefully produce 0,000 more staff, the Government says.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner was typically bullish in February, saying there would be no excuse for not hitting the 1.5 million target. However, they are not speaking as one, and the Chancellor would later be getting in her excuses early for not meeting what would be a 0-year high in housebuilding, in a painfully different economic context.
The lanning and nfrastructure ill recently went through its second reading in the House of Commons. Without serious levers for housebuilders to fi nd and unlock sites quickly and cheaply, and circumvent planning constraints and green belt protestors, there is no way that it is going to be the panacea. The 2bn of investment in social and affordable homes next year is welcome, but it will only deliver 1,000 new homes. rownfi eld passports are another good idea, but they need to be expedited everywhere.
Looking to update or cancel your registration? Scan the QR code to visit our registration page. From here you can also register for our Digital Issues and Newsletters. Alternatively, please visit
hbdonline.co.uk/subscribe
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
think the answer, if we really want 1. million, is much more intervention from Government, alongside industry consultation on practicalities. Not forgetting more incentives and all at pace.
James Parker
Managing Editor James Parker
Publisher Anthony Parker
Account Director Midge Myatt
Account Manager Steve Smith
Digital Marketing & PR Account Manager Suzanne Easter
Operations Director Shelley Collyer
Editorial Contributor Roseanne Field
Event Coordinator Amy Madigan
Studio Manager Mikey Pooley
Production Assistant Georgia Musson
Digital Production Coordinator Kimberley Musson
Feature Coordinator & Publisher’s Assistant Kim Neville
Finance Director Simon Reed
An Employee Owned Company
Cointronic House, Station Road, Heathfi eld, East Sussex TN21 8DF
Advertising & Administration 01435 863500
info@netmagmedia.co.uk
Press Releases
editorial@netmagmedia.co.uk
Registration & Circulation Enquiries
info@netmagmedia.co.uk
In association with:
T e manufacturer of the paper used within our publication is a Chain-of-Custody certifi ed supplier operating within environmental systems certifi ed to both ISO 14001 and EMAS in order to ensure sustainable production.
Subscription costs just £24 for 6 issues, including post and packing. Phone 01435 863500 for details. Individual copies of the publication are available at £5 each inc p & p.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or stored in any information retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. Although every eff ort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Housebuilder & Developer, the publisher can accept no responsibility for the claims or opinions made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Editorial contributors to this journal may have made a payment towards the reproduction costs of material used to illustrate their products.
Printed in England.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
