Strong Support for Local House-Building

Over the last four years there has been nearly double the amount of support for new residential building projects. With the continued growth in the sector, the release of this data is further good news for the industry. It shows that developers and local community groups are working better together to ensure that new developments get off the ground and provide a much-needed increase in the housing stock.

Attitudes to Housing

The information has been released by the British Social Attitudes Survey. This looks at the attitudes of UK consumers on a number of areas, including housing.

56% of respondents supported the building of new homes in the local area. This figure was up 27 points from when the survey was carried out in 2010. Over this period there has also been a decrease in the number of people who oppose local development, with the figure more than halving over the four years. In the latest survey, 20% of people were opposed, which had fallen from 46% when the survey was conducted in 2010.

The number of people who strongly support housing developments in the local vicinity has also grown, increasing from 5% to 16% between 2010 and 2014. During the same time, strong opposition to new building sites fell by almost a third.

The release of this data has provided a further boost to the government's housing aims, which are crucial for the long-term development of the country. The number of housing starts has risen by 10% in the last year alone. Additionally, first-time buyer figures are higher than at any time in the last seven years. This shows that government initiatives and financial support for the industry are helping to increase the number of new-build properties available, including those with balconies.

Locally Led Developments

The local and neighbourhood plans that were initially introduced in 2010 have enabled more developments to get the go-ahead. Rather than developers and the local population working against one another, developments have become more locally led. This has increased approval levels without being detrimental to existing communities.

The ability for councils to reward local communities when new homes are built has allowed those who agree to developments to benefit through new infrastructure or facilities. The New Homes Bonus System is made possible through a £3.4 billion investment.

Community support for housing projects is vital if we are to see further increases in housing starts. Without these new projects, the industry will not be able to meet the level of demand for new homes.