Regional assembly's letter says interim report grossly overestimates UK housing need
Kate Barker, the economist reviewing housing supply for the Treasury, has overestimated the sector's need for growth, according to the South-east England Regional Assembly.

The interim Barker Report, published in December, put forward three possible growth scenarios for the UK. The most dramatic would see the number of private homes built across the country double from 150,000 to 300,000 per year in the long term.

But SEERA has questioned the figures in a letter to Barker. The letter said it was "politically unwise" to scare people with such high growth projections.

It added that the assembly had been advised by the Government Office for the South-east that the current annual target for new homes – 39,000 – needs to increase by a maximum of just 40%.

The assembly has refused to release the letter, claiming it was personal correspondence.

But councillor Keith Mitchell, chairman of SEERA's planning committee, said: "We said in the letter that if you want to get people on your side, you don't scare them by talking about doubling the number of new builds.

If you want to get people on your side, you don’t scare them by talking about doubling the number of new builds

Keith Mitchell, SEERA

"At the top of the range in the Barker Report, you would be looking at double the number of homes, but we have had advice saying we should be looking at between 10% and 40% more."

The assembly thinks that rather than setting a single target, the government should look at what the South-east can deliver.

A Treasury spokesman declined to comment.

SEERA also said the report needed to:

  • explain the connection between housing supply and economic prosperity more clearly
  • look at ways of increasing the numbers of skilled construction workers
  • encourage greater adaptation and movement within the existing housing stock
  • suggest quick and effective ways of reforming section 106 agreements.

Barker's interim report (HT 12 December, page 7) estimated the UK's backlog at 45,000 properties.

Source

Housing Today