Just 16% of homes built are for social housing
Housebuilders are failing to build enough social and affordable housing to meet demand, according to a new survey.
In a survey by consultant McBains, housebuilders said they expected just 16% of the total number of properties they will build over the next year to be classed as social housing and just 20% as affordable homes.
The survey took in the views of more than 400 housebuilding companies in England – including 100 in London.
According to the latest government statistics published in January 2018, local authorities in England owned 1.6 million dwellings in 2017 – a fall of more than 50% since 1994 when the number stood at 3.67 million.
The survey asked housebuilders how many council homes they had built over the last two years and how many they expect to build over the next 12 months.
On average, respondents had been contracted to build 191 homes in the last two years across England, with this number rising to 263 in London. But of these, just 16% on average were social housing. In London – where demand is greatest – it was just 15%.
Housebuilders said they expected, on average, to build 181 houses over the next year and 255 in London. But just 16% of these on average were expected to be classed as social housing.
Similarly, housebuilders were asked about the number of affordable homes they had built over the last two years and how many they expect to build over the next 12 months.
Of the homes built by respondents over the last two years, just 22% were affordable homes built under Section 106 agreements.
Housebuilders did not expect this to increase over the next year, saying only 20% of these to be classed as affordable homes. In London it was just 19%.
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