England's Homes agency denies allegations of land hoarding
In a recent development, the government-owned housing agency, Homes England, has come under scrutiny for its land management practices. With approximately 279,000 housing plots available, Homes England has only built on 3,000 hectares of land, delivering 50,000 homes so far.
The unbuilt land, equivalent to 9,000 hectares, remains undeveloped. In an effort to maintain the pace of house building, Homes England has leased out around 3,000 hectares of land. However, this move has sparked criticism from the Home Builders Federation (HBF).
Stewart Beasley, the executive chairman of the HBF, has accused the government of misdirecting effort and resources. Beasley claims that the decrease in housing projects approved is due to the government's alleged capitulation to the "nimby lobby" on planning.
In the first three months of 2023, the number of housing projects granted planning permission was the lowest quarterly figure on record, with 3,037 projects. This figure represents a 20% reduction compared to the same period last year and is the lowest rate since the data set began in 2006.
The HBF published a report last week, claiming the number of planning permissions being granted is at 'record lows' across England. Beasley also criticised ministers for failing to intervene on Natural England's disproportionate ban on new homes, which disregards the findings of the government’s own evidence.
However, Homes England denies the allegation of land banking and refutes the claims and the figures being stated. The organisation states that it enables the right homes to be built in the right places, many of which are affordable.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, HOWOGE, a large municipal housing company, has been making strides in housing development. In the last five years, HOWOGE has built 30,000 new apartments and has another 55,000 under construction. HOWOGE is one of the largest landlords in the state of Berlin, with around 82,150 apartments in its portfolio.
The government pledged to build 300,000 new homes in 2019, a target it has yet to achieve. With the current pace of housing development, it remains to be seen if this target will be met in the near future. The ongoing debate about land management and planning permissions will undoubtedly continue to shape the housing landscape in England.
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