Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 8h

Reduced availability of housing of all tenures, prolonging the housing crisis, and deepening housing inequality.

It also places significant pressure on SME home builders.

With capital tied up in uncontracted units, cash flow is jeopardised, hindering investment in future phases or projects.

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 8h

Without a commitment from Registered Providers to take Section 106 Affordable Homes on, housing delivery grounds to a halt as developments are stalled, phased differently or even rendered unviable altogether.

Meanwhile, in some instances, Affordable Homes are left standing empty.

The result? 👇

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 8h

An estimated 900 completed Affordable Homes are currently standing empty due to a lack of commitment from social housing providers to take them on, with thousands more at risk.

Our analysis has found that around 8,500 Affordable Homes due to be built in the next 12 months are currently uncontracted

2

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 3d

Planning for Small Sites can be downloaded from our website
www.hbf.co.uk/research-ins...

This report has been delivered in partnership with Quantum Development Finance based on Lichfields analysis.

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 3d

…Meanwhile, the proportion of total planning permissions granted on sites of 150 units or fewer, plummeted to 6-8%...

From 20% in 2008.

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 3d

The result?

In 2024, just 17,000 homes were approved on sites of 3 to 9 units, down from an average of 35,000 annually prior to the Global Financial Crisis

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 3d

The analysis underscores the real impact of planning delays, rising costs, and increasing regulatory complexity on the delivery of small sites…

…ultimately rendering many schemes unviable.

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 3d

Our new report, Planning for Small Sites, shines a light on the mounting barriers facing the nation’s SME home builders, stalling delivery on smaller sites and intensifying the country’s housing shortage.

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 3d

“The findings from this report show that, as a group, SME home builders are in real danger of not just being unable to deliver homes but being unable to stay in business.”

Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive of the Home Builders Federation

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 4d

🔸Rob Lane
🔸David O'Leary
🔸Gráinne Gilmore
🔸Richard Donnell
🔸David Smith, Economics Editor, The Sunday Times
🔸Darryl Stewart
🔸Bukky Bird
🔸Edward Lockhart-Mummery
🔸Marian Spain, Chief Executive, Natural England
🔸Mark White

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 4d

We’re pleased to be in the room at this year’s Housing Market Intelligence Conference 🏡📈📉

Looking forward to hearing from this year’s impressive line up of speakers & panellists 👇
🔸 Neil Jefferson
🔸Justin Webb, Presenter of The Today Programme
🔸 Paul Johnson
🔸Matthew Spry
🔸Eleanor Deeley
🔸Greg Hill

1 1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 5d

A new event for 2025, the HBF Winter Party reimagines the spirit of the long-running HBF Ball – with a modern twist ❄️ 🪩
Taking place on 28 November at the Intercontinental Park Lane, join us for a festive evening of celebration.
Book now – tables of 10 or 12 are also available
👉 buff.ly/0acgPqF

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 6d

Without greater acceptance of the use of cascade mechanisms in Section 106 agreements, the gap between housing supply and ambitious government targets is set to widen further.

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 6d

An estimated 8,500 units currently under construction or due to be built in the next 12 months are not currently under contract with a Register Provider…

…and therefore risk standing empty and stalling the completion of sites across the country.

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 6d

How many Affordable Homes currently under construction or due to start in the next 12 months are currently uncontracted?
We’ve done the research.

And the findings are concerning – but, unfortunately, unsurprising for industry.

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 8d

Our panellists will explore the barriers to ownership and how to overcome them👇
🔸Paul Holmes MP
🔸Neil Jefferson, Home Builders Federation
🔸Eve Norridge, Onward
🔸Lizzie Hacking, Next Gen Tories

... The session will be chaired by Angus Parsad-Wyatt, Director of Political Engagement, Total Politics

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 8d

The dream of home ownership is slipping further out of reach for many. We're hosting a fringe event at Conservative Party Conference next Monday: 'From Dream to Reality: Making Home Ownership Attainable for First-Time Buyers

🗓️ 6 October
📍 ConservativeHome Theatre
⏰ 1-2pm

1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 10d

This sustained drop in both starts and approvals points to a worsening supply crisis in the years ahead.

Read the full Mind the Gap report 👉 buff.ly/r1Y9smK

Mind the Gap

This report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) looks at the recent housing supply and affordability data in London, setting out the scale of the challenge for the Government and Mayor of London…

buff.ly

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 10d

In the 12 months to June 2025:

🏗️ Only 996 projects were granted approval in London, the lowest level since records began in 2006

🏘️ Just 40,800 new homes received planning permission across the city, 5% lower than the year before

Mind the Gap

This report from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) looks at the recent housing supply and affordability data in London, setting out the scale of the challenge for the Government and Mayor of London…

buff.ly

1 1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 10d

📉 Housing delivery in London is slowing and future supply is under serious threat.

New residential starts in the capital fell by 38% between 2022/23 and 2023/24.

At the same time, planning approvals continue to decline in the city, painting a bleak outlook for future housing supply.

1 1 1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 11d

❌More than 700 sites have been delayed or stalled in the past three years due to developers’ inability to secure an RP to acquire the Affordable Homes.

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 11d

❌Around 8,500 Section 106 Affordable Homes that are either under construction or due to commence construction within the next 12 months are not currently contracted.

1 1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 11d

❌An estimated 900 completed Section 106 Affordable Housing units remain empty due to the absence of a contract with a Registered Provider.

1 1

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 11d

Just how much impact is the lack of bids from Registered Providers having on housing delivery nationally?

With anecdotal reports from members that the issue shows little sign of abating, we undertook an FOI exercise to determine if any progress has been made.

Here’s what we found 👇

1 1 2

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 13d

Therefore, removing the funding for those over 21 is entirely at odds with Government's ambition to build 1.5million homes in this Parliament.

Read the letter
✉️ 👉https://buff.ly/OE0QU84

Letter to Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing and Planning | Championing the power of planning

hidden

buff.ly