New Home Starts in South Hams Decline Ahead of UK-Wide Increase

Strategic Insights -

As the UK government seeks to tackle its chronic housing shortage, new figures suggest that the number of new homes starting construction in South Hams, a region in Devon, has declined significantly this year. According to figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, around 60 new homes started being built in South Hams in the three months to March, down from about 160 over the same period the previous year. This decline is part of a national trend, with local authorities across the country starting fewer new homes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of new homes starting construction in South Hams declined from 160 to 60 in the three months to March, a 62.5% reduction.
  • Across England, some 28,180 new homes started to be built in the three months to March, a 9% decrease from the previous quarter but a 22% increase from the year before.
  • Labour's pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes over this parliament has been reiterated, with a focus on supporting councils and housing associations to expand their housing stock.
  • Private developers have a key role in solving the chronic housing shortage, but they cannot build the required number of homes on their own, and councils need to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly and at scale.
  • The Local Government Association is calling for increased support to enable councils to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly and at scale.
  • Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, warned of the ongoing housing emergency and called for measures to end it completely, including setting a clear overall social rent target and getting tough on developers.

Statistics:

  • 60 new homes started being built in South Hams in the three months to March, down from 160 over the same period the previous year, a 62.5% reduction.
  • The number of new home starts in South Hams has declined by 62.5% in just one year.
  • 28,180 new homes started to be built in England in the three months to March, a 9% decrease from the previous quarter but a 22% increase from the year before.
  • The number of new homes completed in South Hams in the three months to March was 130, down from 150 over the same period the previous year.
  • 36,180 new homes were completed across England in the three months to March, a 2% decrease from the previous quarter and a 5% decrease from the previous year.

Sources:

  • Figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government suggest around 60 new homes started being built in South Hams in the three months to March -- down from about 160 over the same period the previous year.
  • Labour's election manifesto, which pledged to deliver 1.5 million new homes over this parliament.
  • An MHCLG spokesperson, who said the government is taking decisive action to get Britain building again and delivering the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation backed by £39 billion investment.
  • Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, who warned of the ongoing housing emergency and called for measures to end it completely.