Building industry 'collapsing'
20 November 2008
New figures released by the Government today show that the number of homes built over the last quarter has fallen dramatically.
The figures track starts and completions of housebuilding projects across England. You can read them in full on the Communities and Local Government website
Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson said;
‘These figures show the house building industry is collapsing around us while the Government stand idly by and watches it happen.
‘While millions of people throughout the country are desperate for a decent home, both house building starts and completions are in freefall.’
New Shelter research this week shows the Government is already facing a one million shortfall against new homes needed, but these figures show this deficit could now be even greater.
Mr Sampson warned: ‘If the Government does not act now to save the industry it could take 10 years for house building in Britain to recover, and will sentence this country to decades of housing decline.’
He added: ‘With repossessions rocketing, council house waiting lists rising, tens of thousands trapped in temporary accommodation and first time buyers being forced to put plans on hold, there has never been a greater need to build more homes.
‘If the Government fails, the result will be years of human misery and the inevitable repetition of boom and bust that has caused the very problems we are now grappling with.
‘Ministers must take immediate responsibility and hugely increase investment in social housing, buy up cheap land for development and ensure house building is a top priority throughout Whitehall.’
