Developers’ profit margins should not be dictating UK housing policy

By Robert McLeod 2024-06-14T06:00:00

The political parties may be promising to build more homes but it is improving the building standards of those homes that is key to tackling the UK’s housing, energy and fuel poverty crises

In the run-up to the general election, a slew of housebuilding promises have been made. This week, Labour has renewed its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, which was trumped by the Conservatives’ manifesto commitment of 1.6 million homes over the same period.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have announced they will build 380,000 homes a year, with 150,000 of them being affordable, while the Greens have set out a similar target for social housing.

Although these numbers appear seductive, it is worth bearing in mind that the last time such ambitious development targets were met was nearly half a century ago.

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