Councils respond to latest housebuilding statistics

Responding to the latest housebuilding statistics released today, Cllr Martin Tett, Housing spokesman at the Local Government Association, said: 

“Between 220,000 and 250,000 homes a year need to be built to meet growing housing need. The private sector clearly has an important role to play but these figures clearly show that they cannot build the number of homes we need on its own.

“Councils are well-placed to plug the housing gap and want to get on with the job of building the new homes that people in their areas desperately need.

“A renaissance in housebuilding by councils is needed if we are to stand any chance of solving our housing crisis. This means councils being given the ability to borrow to invest in housing and to keep 100 per cent of the receipts from properties sold through Right to Buy to replace homes and reinvest in building more genuine affordable homes.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Latest housebuilding data released by the Department for Communities and Local Government can be found here.