Shortages and planning delays holding up homebuilding, say developers

Developers have claimed that shortages and planning delays are hindering homes being built, as reported by The Times.

Builders were surveyed by CMS and said the planning system was slowing down development. They also said that the delays were a result of a lack of planning officers around the country.

Berkely, one of the countries biggest housebuilders, said that last month the “future delivery of new homes” had been “jeopardised by the planning environment and regulatory uncertainty”, according to The Times.

Recent news also revealed the Director of Mortgage Distribution at Leeds Building Society, Martese Carton, claimed that government plans to scrap housing targets will result in as many 100,000 fewer homes being built per year.

Barbour ABI, a construction analytics group that feeds figures into the Office for National Statistics, said:

“The UK property industry is now really suffering from the uncertainty created by the perpetual threats to revamp the planning system,” Ashley Damiral, head of planning at CMS, said. “At the same time, planning departments’ resources are more stretched than ever — causing delays and unpredictability in obtaining planning permission.”

The developers have also stated that Brexit is an issue – with 73% saying it had discouraged investment in property. Nearly 90% said leaving the European Union had hit their supply chains and about 75% criticised the government for  not being “committed enough” to levelling up.