A Million New Homes by 2020

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So that's what Davie boy has told us today. Really - 1,000,000 - by 2020? Was that in the conservative manifesto?

But whether or not that target is realistic do I want that target to be hit? I'm really not so sure.

Why this utter and absolute obsession over home ownership? It seems to me to be unsustainable and unachievable so why don't we just accept that as I think at some point we will have to.

That said the whole nature and control of rental accommodation would have to change to one that makes rental much more affordable, But I suspect that means big changes in the small scale buy-to-let market where the owner relies upon the rent to pay the mortgage on a month-by-month basis and may only be in it for the short term to make some money through the buy and sell transaction - that has to change.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Don't think it matters whether it's to buy or rent....we need more homes. Sadly the issue has been dodged by successive governments for many a year. But now sadly we don't have the people here to do it, and now rely on foreign workers.
BUt it's all ok, because we're all in it together

 

[Norrin Radd]

a million new houses ,hmmm reads more like loads more flooding .we are at breaking point now with the weather ,more houses will mean more concrete jungle and nowhere for the water to go .
are they going to be built on stilts?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

a million new houses ,hmmm reads more like loads more flooding .we are at breaking point now with the weather ,more houses will mean more concrete jungle and nowhere for the water to go .
are they going to be built on stilts?

Well they won't be built in David's constituancy

 

[Khamelion]

Not that I want to turn this thread into a diatribe against immigration, but that is the root cause. As a country we are letting in far to many immigrants, be they legal, illegal, here to work, here to sponge, or whatever.

We are a small country with limited resources, someone should put up the sign saying full.

And where are these houses to be built, probably on green field sites, some brownfield sites, more than likely in area prone to flooding, which will just exacerbate the flooding issues we have now.

A million homes in the next 4 years, really? where? Which struggling golf course is the next to be turned into an estate of affordable housing for the masses entering the UK?

 

[Foxholer]

1. That's certainly no greater than previous targets (none of which have been met!) and , I believe, (significantly) less than those made previously! In 2007, Labour wanted 250K per year and planners believed up to 295K were needed!

2. It's still not enough!


3. Where in the report was there any suggestion that these would be for individual purchase? If there are more Rental homes in 'the market', then there's a belief that accommodation, as a percentage of income, will reduce.

4. Planning of this sort is actually what proper governments should do! The fact that announcing it also provides an opportunity for a 'campaign' message is fortunate for them. what the media should be asking is how they intend to make those numbers happen and will they resign if they can't! That's the reason they (and every other party) don't put figures like that in their Manifestos - because they really can't be certain that they can make it happen!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Not that I want to turn this thread into a diatribe against immigration, but that is the root cause. As a country we are letting in far to many immigrants, be they legal, illegal, here to work, here to sponge, or whatever.

We are a small country with limited resources, someone should put up the sign saying full.

And where are these houses to be built, probably on green field sites, some brownfield sites, more than likely in area prone to flooding, which will just exacerbate the flooding issues we have now.

A million homes in the next 4 years, really? where? Which struggling golf course is the next to be turned into an estate of affordable housing for the masses entering the UK?

Don't forget the number of single men and women requiring houseing in later life due to divorce. The numbers are quite alrming really.

 

[Ethan]

Not that I want to turn this thread into a diatribe against immigration, but that is the root cause. As a country we are letting in far to many immigrants, be they legal, illegal, here to work, here to sponge, or whatever.

We are a small country with limited resources, someone should put up the sign saying full.

And where are these houses to be built, probably on green field sites, some brownfield sites, more than likely in area prone to flooding, which will just exacerbate the flooding issues we have now.

A million homes in the next 4 years, really? where? Which struggling golf course is the next to be turned into an estate of affordable housing for the masses entering the UK?

That is a load of rubbish. Immigrants are not the problem, the problem is a combination of factors including the dramatic fall in council home building, the explosion of second homes and unoccupied properties, the downturn in the economy which reduced private house building and as pointed out by someone else, more middle aged and older single dwellers. This is not a small country. There is plenty of room, and we need more young people working and paying tax to fund public services. The Tories have lied before about house building plans. No reason to believe this isn't just an even bigger lie.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Not that I want to turn this thread into a diatribe against immigration, but that is the root cause. As a country we are letting in far to many immigrants, be they legal, illegal, here to work, here to sponge, or whatever.

We are a small country with limited resources, someone should put up the sign saying full.

And where are these houses to be built, probably on green field sites, some brownfield sites, more than likely in area prone to flooding, which will just exacerbate the flooding issues we have now.

A million homes in the next 4 years, really? where? Which struggling golf course is the next to be turned into an estate of affordable housing for the masses entering the UK?

But you did anyway

 

[Khamelion]

But you did anyway

And my job here is done. Now where did I leave that small stone arched bridge? Bugger it's been washed away by the floods, looks like I'll be homeless now as well and in need of a house, why aren't the government building more houses? There building a million in the next 4yrs? champion I'll get one of those, I do hope it's on that flat piece of land next to the river, it'll be great in the summer, walking along the banks watching the ducks swim by.

 

[bluewolf]

And my job here is done. Now where did I leave that small stone arched bridge? Bugger it's been washed away by the floods, looks like I'll be homeless now as well and in need of a house, why aren't the government building more houses? There building a million in the next 4yrs? champion I'll get one of those, I do hope it's on that flat piece of land next to the river, it'll be great in the summer, walking along the banks watching the ducks swim by.

Have you considered Dry January?

 

[Khamelion]

Have you considered Dry January?

Dry January, I don't drink a great deal anyway, so not a problem, but January being dry, not a chance, it's not stopped raining since yesterday and it's stotting down outside. Got to feel for the poor sods who have been repeatedly flooded.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We need more homes. I think most would agree that. One million though in 4-5 years. Is that achieveable, especially if much of it will go on green belt land and inevitably face protest. I think not

 

[Khamelion]

That is a load of rubbish. Immigrants are not the problem, the problem is a combination of factors including the dramatic fall in council home building, the explosion of second homes and unoccupied properties, the downturn in the economy which reduced private house building and as pointed out by someone else, more middle aged and older single dwellers. This is not a small country. There is plenty of room, and we need more young people working and paying tax to fund public services. The Tories have lied before about house building plans. No reason to believe this isn't just an even bigger lie.

We are a small country, the urbans areas are creaking where the existing houses are, to create more housing, means more green belt and park areas becoming built on, which will just increase the flood risk to many areas.

A few years ago when Newcastle was hit bit a massive rain storm, houses which were built on land next to a dene, had to be demolished, this was due to the area being built on. Had there bee no houses the land would have absorbed the deluge, but with it being urbanised the water was concentrated into a torrent, which washed away foundations and left some of the housing unsafe.

Many new estates are being built on land that is liable to flooding, by building on fields that flood, you just bring misery to those who have bought there, misery to others down stream of the flood water as its got to go somewhere.

Forget building on new green field sites, leave the grass green, develop brown field sites, with modern high rises, encourage growth within the cities.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

So that's what Davie boy has told us today. Really - 1,000,000 - by 2020? Was that in the conservative manifesto?

But whether or not that target is realistic do I want that target to be hit? I'm really not so sure.

Why this utter and absolute obsession over home ownership? It seems to me to be unsustainable and unachievable so why don't we just accept that as I think at some point we will have to.

That said the whole nature and control of rental accommodation would have to change to one that makes rental much more affordable, But I suspect that means big changes in the small scale buy-to-let market where the owner relies upon the rent to pay the mortgage on a month-by-month basis and may only be in it for the short term to make some money through the buy and sell transaction - that has to change.

SILH, do you rent?

Also, surely the number of houses wont be to do with home ownership, but purely housing a growing population? Whether a house is rented or lived in, it's only one family in there....

 

[Tashyboy]

Do we need a million homes in four years? Is there a million families looking for homes now ? Or in four years time ? Will it end in four years time the need to build any more houses? When the homes are filled will we need more homes for a larger population ? when does house building actually stop?

 

[Liverbirdie]

Surely Northumberland isn't full.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

There are many empty houses/shops/factories/unused farm buildings/brownfield sites in the UK.

Changes in planning laws, especially agriculturally tied accommodation and High Street Shops would, IMO be much better than creating more tiny cardboard box estates.

BTW ....more Tory lies from Cameron's mouth.
Totally unrealistic figure quoted.
Planning to build 1M houses is the same as me saying I am planning to score 62 in the next medal.

 

[freddielong]

Too many people own too many properties, that is the problem.

 

[CliveW]

I know of several builders, some of whom run small family businesses and one who is a major builder in Central Scotland. All of them have built up land banks throughout the years when times have been good and they had money to invest. The problem now with builders is not that there isn't any land to build on, but the banks won't lend to builders to allow them to develop these sites so they lie undeveloped. Once the banks start to lend again (If that ever happens!) then things should improve.