Survey raises doubts over Government housebuilding targets

Survey raises doubts over Government housebuilding targets

Close to two thirds of Brits are not confident that the Government can meet its targets for homebuilding during the next five years.

Labour has pledged to reform the planning system so it can build 1.5m homes during the parliamentary term.

But a survey by tradespeople comparison website MyBuilder.com, found 57% are not confident that Government targets for housebuilding will be met. This jumps to 72% among over-55s.

There are also geographical variations in the levels of confidence, with 70% of those surveyed in Bristol believing the goals would not be met, followed by 68% in Southampton and 67% in Nottingham.

Meanwhile, Londoners had more confidence, with 48% stating that they did not think the Government would achieve its goals. 

Professionals from MyBuilder.com have pointed out that the current skills shortage in construction and the skilled trades could make the Government’s new target problematic.

According to recent research from the UK Trade Skills Index, the UK has seen a worrying rise of skills shortages across construction.

Andy Simms, from MyBuilder.com, said that the government must do all it can to encourage young people into trades to address the skills shortages.

He said: “It’s great to see that the new government is keen to prioritise house building when there is such a problem in this area.

“Government incentives helped the UK see a spike in trades apprenticeships, but in 2021 nearly half of this apprenticeship levy was unspent. The Government must work with the education system to promote the trades as a career path, or we will be facing bigger shortages than ever at a time when house building needs to be a priority for the British people.