Matthew Pennycook comments on new data showing a fall in housebuilding in the first quarter of 2024

Matthew Pennycook MP, Labour's Shadow Housing and Planning Minister, commenting on new data showing a fall in housebuilding in the first quarter of 2024, said: 

“Tory ministers can no longer deny the truth that they have utterly failed to build the homes Britain needs. 

“Not once has this Tory government met its own housing target and as a result of their reckless decision to abolish mandatory housing targets, Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove have torpedoed housing supply, leaving working people paying the price. 

“Labour will get Britain building again with 1.5 million new homes over five years and the biggest boost to affordable, social and council housing for a generation.”

Ends

Notes:

• Figures released today by the National House Building Council (NHBC), the UK's largest provider of new home warranties and insurance, show 26,240 new homes were completed in Q1 2024, 13% down on Q1 2023 (30,071). 2

• 1,967 new homes were registered to be built in the same period down 20% on Q1 2023 (27,619). 

• Source: https://www.nhbc.co.uk/media-centre/statistics/2024/05/13/economic-challenges-and-wet-weather-dampen-house-building-in-first-quarter-reports-nhbc

• On BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday, Housing Secretary Michael Gove admitted "We have not been building enough homes":
  https://twitter.com/BBCr4today/status/1789204929426362830