Comment from shelter on annual house building figures

November 17, 2017

Shelter comment on annual housing supply figures (2016/17) released yesterday 16th November 2017

  • There were 217,350 additional dwellings between 2016/2017, and increase of 15% on last year. (DCLG)
  • However, according to government statistics out last week, the total number of affordable homes built in England last year was 41,530, well below the average over the past ten years. This means that only 19% of new properties announced today are classed as affordable. (DCLG)
  • The biggest changes in supply were seen via conversions (splitting homes to make more units) and change of use (conversions from offices to flats for example), at 19% and 22% respectively. Worryingly, these dwellings have no quality assurance or affordable housing obligation.
  • Shelter say we need to build at least 250,000 new homes a year, 125,000 of which should be genuinely affordable. Affordable homes should take up no more than 1/3 of local people’s income.

Polly Neate, chief executive at Shelter, said: “It’s good to see the Prime Minister shedding light on housebuilding and new statistics showing some increase in new homes, however the numbers are still well short of the government’s own targets and we should be crystal clear that not even a fifth of these are affordable.

“With hundreds of thousands of people homeless this Christmas and those in need of affordable homes going up all the time, owing to a crippling combination of soaring rents and welfare cuts, these numbers fall woefully short.

“If the government is serious about tackling our housing crisis and helping the millions of families on lower incomes in the upcoming budget then sticking plasters will not be enough – it must urgently prioritise building homes which are genuinely affordable for ordinary people to rent or buy.”

Source of information Shelter.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Prime London property values slide by as much as 60%

The latest market analysis by prime London property brokerage, Jefferies London, has revealed that sold prices across some of prime London’s most popular neighbourhoods have fallen by as much as 60% so far this year when compared to the same period in 2024. Jefferies London analysed sold price records from the Land Registry, looking at…
Read More →
Breaking News

Can’t afford London? These cities are giving investors more for less

New data has revealed that between four and ten of all buy-to-let purchases made in the first four months of 2025 took place in the Midlands and the North of England. With affordability scarcer than ever in the South, property investors are turning their attention to greener pastures… literally. So, what’s driving the shift up…
Read More →
Breaking News

£19m per month for the nation’s most prestigious property

The latest research by award winning mortgage adviser, Alexander Hall, has revealed that whilst a property close to Royal Ascot will see the average homebuyer pay £4,263 a month in mortgage costs, this monthly payment climbs as high as £19m a month for those with ambitions of snagging a real royal property. This week, Royal…
Read More →
Breaking News

Glenigan Summer Forecast: Boom Times Ahead For UK Construction

Construction intelligence specialists predict major performance uptick over the next three years. UK construction sector set to grow 24% over the forecast period Private housebuilding is set to increase significantly, with an 18% activity increase predicted in 2027 Industrial & Commercial gradually strengthens as UK economic growth gathers pace, supported by increased business investment Increased…
Read More →
Breaking News

Five businesses expelled by The Property Ombudsman

Three estate agents and two letting agents have been expelled from The Property Ombudsman for failing to pay compensation awards to consumers. Prime Property Agents on Clarendon Street, Nottingham, failed to refund a buyer’s £7,200 reservation fee after a purchase fell through. The agent did not follow their own terms and conditions, failing to present…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Live, Invest, Explore: London and Dubai for the Modern Property Buyer

In today’s globalised world, property buying is no longer confined to one’s home country. Modern investors are seeking destinations that combine strong real estate potential with a rich lifestyle experience—places where they can live, travel, and grow their wealth. Two cities continue to dominate the list of international property buyers: London and Dubai. Whether you’re…
Read More →