UK Housebuilding Rates Plummet Since 1947, Leaving 4.3M Homes Unbuilt
Housebuilding rates in England and Wales have plummeted since 1947, with a third drop compared to post-war levels. This decline has contributed to a severe housing shortage, with the UK lacking 4.3 million homes that could have been built since the 1950s. The Centre for Cities has proposed reforms to tackle this issue, including decentralizing planning powers and adopting more flexible zoning systems.
The current planning system, based on case-by-case decisions, has hindered housebuilding. It allows local authorities high discretion, often leading to development restrictions and slower housebuilding rates. The Centre for Cities suggests shifting to a rules-based system with flexible zoning processes to increase housing supply.
To meet government targets of 300,000 homes a year, it would take at least 50 years. To address the issue sooner, England alone would need to build 442,000 homes a year for 25 years or 654,000 homes over the next decade. This would make higher-quality housing more affordable.
The Centre for Cities recommends reforms such as decentralizing planning powers to local authorities, introducing more flexible zoning systems, simplifying the planning approval process, and enhancing collaboration between city councils and developers. These changes could help emulate successful European planning models and significantly boost housing supply in the UK.
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