A new report released by the HBF shows that last year housebuilding in England and Wales generated £53.3billion of economic output and supported 834,000 jobs, underlining the economic potential of delivering the homes the country needs.
The report, titled ‘The Economic Footprint of Home Building in England and Wales’, illustrates the boost to growth Labour can achieve by hitting its target of 1.5 million homes – which would support an additional 350,000 jobs and £100billion in economic activity across the parliament compared to the last five years.
The research carried out by Lichfields for the Home Builders Federation (HBF) found that last year, delivering 240,000 homes generated:
- £53.3billion of economic output
- £6.4billion in revenues for the exchequer (via SDLT, Corporation tax, NI, PAYE etc)
- £9.2billion of new ‘affordable’ housing
- £1.5billion investment in infrastructure
- £16.6billion spent in the construction supply chain (90% stays in UK)
- £216million investment in open space, community and sport facilities
Last year’s delivery of homes also supported 834,000 jobs across the industry including 10,000 apprentices and trainees.
The new report, produced in association with United Trust Bank, illustrates how increasing the number of homes built increases the economic benefits. Last year, the delivery of 240,000 homes generated an additional £15billion of activity compared to 2019, when 224,000 homes were built.
The findings also demonstrate the huge boost to growth the new government can release if it can hit its ambitious housing targets. If Labour were to meet its housing targets of 1.5 million homes built over the course of this parliament, this could result in:
- 1,043,000 jobs supported each year, including 10,250 graduate and apprenticeship positions
- £330billion generated in economic activity
- £57.5billion for affordable housing
- £42.5billion spending in local shops
- £40billion in tax receipts, including £3billion in additional council tax
- £9.4billion in funding for infrastructure, including £4.2billion for new and improved schools
- £1.35 billion in spending for open spaces
Compared to the 1 million homes built under the last government, this equals an additional:
- 347,500 jobs each year, including 3,417 graduate and apprentices
- £111billion in economic activity
- £19billion for affordable housing
- £14billion spending in local shops
- £13billion in tax receipts, including £1billion in council tax
- £3.1billion in funding for infrastructure, including £1.4billion on new and improved schools
- £450million in funding for open spaces
The housebuilding industry has so far welcomed the swift and decisive interventions Labour has made on planning, that have largely addressed the major barriers to land coming through the system. Now the HBF and the wider industry are calling on the government to address constraints affecting demand, notably the lack of affordable mortgages, particularly for first-time buyers.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the HBF, said: “As well as addressing some of the major social issues the country faces, building more homes drives economic activity. The housebuilding industry sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs, generates huge receipts for the exchequer and boosts investment in infrastructure and amenities across the country.”
“Delivering new developments provides energy-efficient, modern homes, and ploughs investment into new roads, schools and community facilities that benefit both new and existing residents.”
“If government can deliver on its ambitious housing targets it will reap significant social and economic benefits. The industry welcomes the swift and decisive actions to address the constraints in the planning system, but more is needed to accelerate growth. The lack of affordable mortgage availability means more support for buyers is needed. Creating demand for new homes provides the confidence the industry needs to invest and deliver both private and affordable homes.”
“The upcoming budget provides an opportunity for the government to take more positive steps to address the mounting housing crisis and to commit to their pledge to get Britain building again.”
Richard Coburn, senior director at Lichfields, said: “We were delighted to be asked by the HBF to update our series of economic impact work which we started in 2015. Our research lands at an extremely important time for the housebuilding industry with the new government seemingly taking all reasonable policy measures to accelerate much-needed delivery of new homes.
“Lichfields again has identified the very significant economic contribution made by housebuilding and how boosting supply to achieve the government’s confirmed aspiration of 300,000 homes per annum in England will not only help improve access to housing for people across the country but also deliver a significant economic and infrastructure dividend.”
“It is important that this contribution is properly recognised in planning and investment decisions across central and local government.”
