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‘500,000 homes needed in North over next decade’
At least 500,000 new homes are needed across the North of England over the next decade, a new report has claimed.
Analysis of local authorities’ housing need projections by planning consultancy Lichfields found the supply shortfall in the North is expected to make up 29% of the country’s entire projected demand in the next 10 years.
Affordable homes to rent will be in highest demand due to high numbers of young working families and graduates.
Homes for the North, an alliance of the region’s 19 largest housing associations, commissioned the report. The group has called for the government to adopt a northern housing target to help drive supply.
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Mark Henderson, chair of Homes for the North and chief executive of Home Group, said: “While much of the debate over projected demand has been centred around the capital, our research shows that almost a third of new homes in England will be required across our great northern regions, especially around cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle.
“To meet the expected demand in new housing across the North, we need a more diverse market. Providers like us could double the amount we build if only government released more public land for development and provided more certainty over future housing funding.”
Lichfields examined Strategic Housing Market Assessments for 72 local planning authorities and the North’s seven city regions.
It found 70% of demand is concentrated in the large urban centres, with the Leeds City Region expected to need 13,088 homes a year in the coming decade – 23% of the North’s total.
Communities and local government secretary Sajid Javid said: “We welcome Homes for the North’s ambition to drive up housing supply and provide many new homes where people want to live.
“This ambition is entirely in line with our recent White Paper, which set out our own plans to increase housing supply.
“We recently announced a housing deal with Leeds, and hope to announce deals with other places [in the] Autumn Budget.”
