Thu 8 May 2008
Volume of new housing starts to slow
The number of new homes constructed this year could fall to below 100,000, compared with the 175,000 completed in the last calendar year, according to government figures, which would acutely affect the government’s housebuilding targets.The projection is based on homebuilders' level of activity during the first four months of 2008.
Speaking at a conference this week, Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright (pictured) warned that the sector was hindered by the fact that many housebuilders “will not be building, certainly in the short term.”
Wright added: “Under this government, housebuilding rates have increased to the highest levels for something like 20 years.”
Last week, building giant Persimmon, which announced last week it was postponing building work on all new sites, and now a number of other housing developers are likely to follow suit.
Andrew Whitaker, head of planning at the Home Builders' Federation, said that he would rather not comment on the fact that under 100,000 homes may be built this year.
Posted by Marc Da-Silva
in Andrew Whitaker, Home Builders Federation (HBF), Iain Wright, News, Persimmon Homes on Thu 8 May 2008
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