Public clamor intensifies for increased construction of social housing and investment in local infrastructures in the UK
In the ongoing debate about addressing the UK's housing crisis, a new survey conducted by Places for People, a UK-based social enterprise, sheds light on the public's stance on new housebuilding within five miles of their homes.
Dinny Shaw, head of planning at Places for People, commented on the research, stating there is a clear appetite for new housebuilding and new communities from the UK public. However, the survey reveals a cautious approach, with 58% of the people surveyed expressing concerns about the strain new housebuilding would put on local services.
The research polled 4,000 people from diverse housing circumstances, financial income, age, and sex. The findings suggest that almost two-thirds (63%) of the people surveyed are supportive of new affordable and social housing within five miles of their home. Yet, there is a regional variance in attitudes towards new housebuilding, with individuals from areas with higher house prices (such as the South East and South West) more likely to be concerned about the strain on existing services.
On the other hand, devolved nations are the least likely to be worried about the impact of new housebuilding. Shaw calls for a new government to invest in local planning authorities in the short-term to unlock sites that are caught up in viability issues and to provide a clear direction and policy framework to speed up decision-making.
Investment in local infrastructure projects, such as schools, doctors' surgeries, and hospitals, is also a concern for the UK public. According to the survey, 71% of the people surveyed claim there should be more upfront investment in local infrastructure projects to accompany new properties.
The UK government has set a target to build 1.5 million new homes over the current parliament, aiming to address the housing crisis by significantly increasing housebuilding. However, experts and policymakers acknowledge the need for new homes but stress that planning reform must be coupled with investment in local infrastructure and public services to ensure growth benefits local communities and does not worsen existing pressures.
YouGov polling platforms specialize in tracking housing opinion trends and may have relevant up-to-date data accessible for more specific attitudes about housebuilding near existing homes and views on local infrastructure investment or regional variance.
It's important to note that only 10,406 sites were granted planning permission in the last 12 months, the lowest number since 2006. On average, it takes 28 weeks for any proposal to make it through the planning system.
In summary, while the UK government and housing sector are actively pushing for more new homes, the public stance likely depends heavily on whether local infrastructure investment accompanies housebuilding, and opinions may vary by region. Explicit survey data on this nuanced topic should be sought directly from polling organizations like YouGov for the latest detailed insights.
- The survey conducted by Places for People highlights that while there's a strong support (63%) for new affordable and social housing, concerns about the strain on local services persist, particularly amongst those living in regions with higher house prices.
- The research also indicates that residents in devolved nations are less concerned about the impact of new housebuilding, compared to their counterparts in other regions.
- In response to the findings, Dinny Shaw from Places for People advocates for increased investment in local planning authorities and infrastructure projects, such as schools, doctors' surgeries, and hospitals, to ensure that new housebuilding benefits local communities and does not worsen existing pressures.
