CBI on how we build one million new homes by 2020

Howard Chapman, Buildingtalk Editor, recommends the new CBI report No Place Like Home that highlights the changes needed in house building if we are to meet the Government target one million new homes by 2020.

No Place Like Home – a step change in housing delivery

A new report, No Place Like Home, from the CBI, one of the UK’s most influential business organisations, calls for radical thinking and more action if the Government is to deliver on its ambitious target of building one million new homes by 2020.

With the UK population set to grow by 10 million in the next 25 years, the CBI warns that the UK housing shortage will become more critical, creating severe social problems and harming UK business.

Recent Government action like ‘Help to Buy’ and ‘Home Building Fund’ are not enough to address the fundamental issue of providing more affordable housing, both to rent and to buy.

Joined-up thinking and strategic action

The CBI calls for more joined-up thinking and strategic action from the forthcoming Department for Communities and Local Government strategic housing plan and white paper on housing.

Solutions via SME housebuilders

Government to help SME housebuilders by releasing of small sites of public land and making access to finance easier via its Home Building Fund

Boost affordable rental sector

Encourage more the private rental sector including new large scale initiatives. Offer greater flexibility to Housing Associations to increase capital spending on affordable housing.

Collaboration and innovation

Encourage collaboration between established industry experts and new entrants to the market, from hedge funds to major contractors, plus support for key innovations including off-site manufacturing.

Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, called for a revolution in the way business and the Government think about, provide and deliver housing. It is the only way will reach target of one million new homes by 2020.