Self builders
demonstrate the way forward and could help solve the UK's
housing crisis
The UK Housing Industry should take a leaf out of the self
builders' book - that's the obvious solution to the latest
Baker Report, published in March, which declared that the
sector is in crisis. The report states that to keep house
price inflation down to the European average of 1.1% an additional
120,000 houses are required. It also highlights two issues
which are slowing up the supply of new houses; the slow speed
of build-out of development as a result of too large developments
being undertaken and the need for developers to adopt more
modern methods of construction to speed up the process.
Clearly, some alternative thinking is required as gearing
up Britain's large housebuilders to increase the housing supply
to the required level is impossible in the short term. While
self builders currently build 20,000 houses every year there
is a pent up demand for more than double this number. With
improvements and flexibility in planning and the availability
of land, self builders are in a position to play a greater
part in helping to reduce Britain's housing shortage.
If developers zoned part of their larger developments for
self build the overall build-out times would be reduced by
having multiple simultaneous developments on the one site.
BuildStore's managing director, Raymond Connor points out
that if the government is looking to reduce build out times
for developments, the self builder is an excellent person
to help. He says: "The Barker report is advocating that
house developers follow a lead already set by self builders
in adopting more modern construction methods.
For many years self builders have used offsite prefabrication,
for example, timber frame or structural insulated panels,
as a quick and efficient way of getting their house built
quickly. This helps self builders get round issues such as
skill shortages which have beset the national and regional
house builders." |
BuildStore
have just launched a new ground breaking mortgage which makes
it easier for people who want to buy a house which needs work
done to it to bring it up to standard. Our Ideal Home Improvement
Mortgage resolves the cash flow problems home improvers often
have.
Small
construction companies and residential developers have been
given a boost with the launch of Land4Developers, BuildStore's
exciting new database which lists residential land for development,
with planning permission, across the UK. The database includes
multiple plot listings for three dwellings upwards, as well
as brownfield sites, such as warehouses and disused office
space which have permission for residential development. 
