Housing starts uplift welcomed - but planning hold-ups still preventing more
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Housebuilder Redrow has welcomed news that starts* on new homes last year were at their highest annual total since 2007 and 10% higher than in 2013.
However, it says the “slow and tedious” planning process is still preventing developers from providing the volume of new homes required.
Redrow, which delivered a buoyant set of half year results only a week ago, has made a significant contribution to the uplift in new homes starts and has a strategy to grow the business by increasing the number of outlets.
Dave Bexon, Group sales and marketing director for Redrow, said: “We are expecting to increase the number of active outlets to 115 by June 2015, a 12% increase on the previous year. Whilst we are only at the beginning of the spring selling season, demand for new homes is strong and the welcomed changes to stamp duty will undoubtedly help home buyers within our market segment. We have a strong pipeline of land for new sites, which should enable us to continue to increase the number of homes we build.
“We’re pleased that today’s report shows progress and Government initiatives such as Help to Buy and stamp duty reform are very welcome, but there is still more to be done. Despite reforms to the planning system, obtaining detailed or reserved matter approvals remains a slow and tedious process. It is undoubtedly the single biggest obstacle to the industry increasing the volume of new homes that the country needs.”
* https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/house-building-in-england-october-to-december-2014