45% of councils 'now have build-to-rent in their pipeline'

The number of councils with build-to-rent (BTR) in their local plans has increased 18% in a year, according to research.

According to analysis by the British Property Federation and Savills, 167 councils now have BTR in their pipelines, up from 130 a year ago. This means 45% of local authorities now have BTR in their local plans.

The figures show that 10,300 BTR homes were completed in the year to June 30 taking the total completed stock to 73,739 units.

The research also showed BTR is increasing more rapidly in other UK cities than in London. The total number of homes completed or in the pipeline in regional cities increased 16% compared to 8% in the capital. Single family BTR is the fastest growing sub-sector with a 44% increase in pipeline units to 21,000.

Ian Fletcher, director of real estate policy, BPF, said the data ‘underlines just how rapidly the UK BTR sector is expanding”.

He said: “We can see a broader spread and increased presence of BTR across the country, with more local authorities including it in Local Plans and considering it a vital component of future housing supply.

“This shows the market maturing beyond London and major regional city centres to towns and suburban locations and BTR becoming very much part of a more diverse and futureproof UK housing market.”

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