Need to know
Growth in self and custom build sector
A new initiative is revealed every year, each designed to kick start house building in the UK – yet nothing happens. This time it’s Sajid Javid announcing a £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund that’ll create the network necessary to service another 100,000 homes. I note that this is just about infrastructure, not the dwellings – that will be down to developers, but it appears the big firms are holding sway and many schemes are earmarked for designated green belt areas. This is a significant shift, and proposed development in these zones has jumped 54% since March 2016. The big house builders must be delighted, because that’s where the best profit margins lie. I’ll be amazed if much of what they create falls into the affordable bracket.