The report highlights the three main themes that underpin the Government’s housing policy summarising them as: ‘there needs to be more of it, it needs to be better designed and it needs to be more affordable’. It concludes by saying ‘this is prompting a significant shift in emphasis from housing renewal to housing growth.’ The issue for the house building industry and the planning systems surrounding it is that the demand for a step change in the pace of development needs to take place alongside ambitious targets for design and build standards such as the commitment to make all homes Zero Carbon by 2016. Elaine Tooke, Knight Frank Head of Residential Development Consulting says: “This document sets out the key policies as they affect developers and house builders whilst some policies and targets may be further refined the pattern is clear. Developers who invest time and resources in design and place making skills, develop good links with affordable housing providers and importantly build relationships with public sector landowners, will succeed over the next decade.”

According to Liam Bailey, Head of Residential Research: “The Government’s vision is to see all households having ‘access to a decent home at a price they can afford, in a place they want to live and work’. It is therefore somewhat ironic that this vision for increased housing stock to aid affordability is enunciated just at the time when house prices and sales volumes are coming under increased pressure. Our aim in producing this intelligence brief is to focus the minds of all involved in housing development process on the issues to be addressed for their future success and that of the sectors in which they operate."

Property consultants Knight Frank have released a report aimed at helping developers unpick the issues surrounding the Government’s housing policy for England and Wales. The eight-page report comes at a time when the Government’s Housing and Regeneration Bill confirmed an ambitious target of three million new homes in England and Wales by 2020.

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