Three in five said current funding availability is ‘inadequate’
Public servants in the housing sector have identified a lack of available land and developer profit expectations as two of the biggest barriers to achieving the government’s housebuilding ambitions.
The findings were revealed in a recent survey by public sector procurement specialist Pagabo.
It included 84 individuals in housing delivery-related posts across local government and housing associations in the UK, with 37% of respondents selecting these two options as the top blockers to local housebuilding.
Meanwhile, those working for housing associations reported a more positive relationship with private developers than those in council positions, with 55% describing their experience as “positive” compared to just 25% of local government participants.
To remedy the perceived lack of available land, 54% of respondents would prioritise a “balanced mix of both” brownfield and greenbelt sites, with 56% citing high remediation costs as the main constraint in bringing forward brownfield land.
Meanwhile, 73% of respondents cited the need for long-term funding certainty from government to deliver on its promise of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029. A combined 60% deemed the current availability of funding as either “highly inadequate” or “insufficient for required delivery.”
Jonathan Parker, development director at Pagabo, said: “Our new report includes findings that suggest the government’s housebuilding target is more optimistic than realistic, but this is tinged with a clear appetite to be able to deliver more homes.
“Without a greater understanding of the views and challenges being faced around the country by those tasked with delivery, no changes can be made. Having these insights means that the government and wider delivery collaborators can now come together to find the solutions that breed confidence and progress against local targets - not see them dwindle further.”
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