Official figures show government still a long way off meeting 300,000-home manifesto pledge
Annual housing supply figures published today show that 212,570 new homes were built in 2022/23, an increase of 900 from the previous year’s 211,670, but significantly below the government’s target to build 300,000 new homes per year.
The Government missed its target of building 300,000 new homes per year by over 87,000
The number of net additional dwellings, including conversions and changes of use, was 234,000, a decrease of 70 from the previous year.
The government’s annual housing supply figures, released today, show that there were 22,160 homes delivered due to a change of use from non-domestic to residential, 4,500 gains from conversions between houses and flats, and 640 other gains from caravans and houseboats. These gains were offset by 5,470 demolitions.
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Out of the total net additions from new build homes, 194 were delivered through ‘permitted development rights’, meaning that full planning permission was not required.
Additionally, out of the total net additions from change of use, 9,492 were made through ‘permitted development rights’.
These included 7,903 additional dwellings from former offices, 534 from agricultural buildings, 59 from storage buildings, 103 from light industrial buildings, 451 from commercial, business, and service use buildings, and 442 from other non-domestic buildings.
In its 2019 manifesto, the Conservative party promised to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. In December 2022, Michael Gove said that the Government was committed to the 300,000 homes per year target, but that it was ‘advisory’.
Housing Today, through its A Fair Deal for Housing campaign, has said the government should not back away from its manifesto pledge of building 300,000 new homes annually by the mid-2020s.
According to the National Housing Federation, to meet current demand, England needs 340,000 new homes, including 145,000 affordable homes, per year until 2031. This includes 90,000 homes for social rent and 25,000 for shared ownership.
The figures in the Government’s annual housing supply use data from the census as a baseline, showing the net change in the housing stock in England during the period from 1st April to 31st March of the following year.
Figures for the years 2011/12 to 2020/21 have been revised to calibrate to the latest Census 2021 dwelling count.
The ‘net additional dwelling’ figures are based on local authority estimates of gains and losses of dwellings during each year and are calculated using the council tax base, building control, site visits and any other management information available to the local authority.
A Fair Deal for Housing campaign
Housing Today believes the government should not back away from its manifesto pledge of building 300,000 new homes a year by the middle of the decade. We badly need more homes and a lack of supply is a major factor in creating problems of affordability for both buyers and renters.
Over the next few months, Housing Today will be exploring potential solutions to help us ramp up housebuilding to 300,000. These are likely to include different ways of working, funding asks of government and policy ideas that could boost housebuilding.
We want to hear from you: what do you think can make a difference at a policy level?
What can the industry do better?
We believe that, with the right commitments from ministers and the industry, it is possible to build more homes and help the government to meet its objectives to “build beautiful”, improve quality and safety, boost home ownership and level up the UK.
To contribute ideas to our A Fair Deal for Housing Ideas Zone database, click here.
A Fair Deal for Housing is part of the Building the Future Commission
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