The government has made clear its commitment to building new homes to address the housing crisis, with surveys indicating that a growing number of people support new and in some parts of the country, much-needed developments.
However, achieving this goal will be challenging. Only 114,000 new homes were built in England and Wales in the first half of 2024, which is 11% fewer than in the same period of 2022.
The National House Building Council (NHBC) suggests that the rate of new home delivery will need to more than double to meet the target of 1.5 million homes over the next five years. Is this even possible?
The urgency to reverse the downward trend is evident, and much hope is placed on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which aims to create a more efficient and better-funded planning process.
Additionally, the government has announced new home-buyer incentives, planning changes, and infrastructure investments in power grids, water supply, and roads to facilitate new home-building.
A big question we want to ask is, what about the extra amenities needed? To start with schools and doctors’ surgeries will need to be built. In Lancaster, many schools are already over-subscribed. It’s already difficult to get a doctor’s or dental appointment. Will we get new roads to cope with all the traffic?
What are your thoughts? What do you think we need locally in Lancaster? I’d love to know.
Thanks for reading
Michelle