A  Housing Strategy for England 2012

February 2012

This paper summarisesthe government’s housing strategy for England published in November 2011. Thisstates that ‘one of the most important things each generation can do for thenext is to build high quality homes that will stand the test of time’. They goon to tell us that for decades in Britain we have under-built.

By the time the current Governmentcame to office, house building rates had reached lows not seen in peace-timesince the 1920s. The economic and social consequences of this failure haveaffected millions: costing jobs; forcing growing families to live in crampedconditions; leaving young people without much hope that they will ever own ahome of their own.

The housing strategy papers statesthat these problems have been entrenched over decades and have deepened overthe past few years. The housing market is one of the biggest victims of thecredit crunch: lenders won’t lend, so builders can’t build and buyers can’tbuy. That lack of confidence is visible in derelict building sites and endless‘For Sale’ signs. It is doing huge damage to the United Kingdom economy and oursociety, so it is right for government to step in and take bold action tounblock the market. That action is detailed in the Housing Strategy.

The government considers that: ‘Thisis a radical and unashamedly ambitious strategy’. The opening summary of thenew strategy paper identifies two main aims;

·        First,  to help drive local economies and create jobs. Unblocking the market willprovide a much-needed boost to employment.

·        Second,  these plans are designed to spread opportunity in our society. For too long,millions have been locked out of home ownership.

With this strategy, thegovernment hopes to unlock the housing market, get Britain building again, andgive many more people the satisfaction and security that comes from steppingover their own threshold. The government says that these plans are ambitious –but they are determined to deliver on them.

It is well known that housing shouldprovide a secure foundation for individuals to live the lives they want tolive. Finding the right home, in the right place, can be an essential platformfor people seeking to support their families and sustain work.

Housing is an increasingly importantasset: families can draw on the wealth stored in housing to open up newopportunities – such as education, or helping the next generation to securetheir own homes. 

But too many families struggle tomeet their housing needs. It has become too difficult for many households whowish to be homeowners to secure the mortgage they require. Many households facerising rents, social housing is not always providing the right support to thepeople who need it most and the slow pace of new housing supply means thatEngland is missing out on economic growth and on jobs.

To download the full briefing paperclick here.