Housing minister admits "no silver bullet" for housing shortage

The Housing Minister, Gavin Barwell MP has told the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) conference that there is “no silver bullet” for the housing shortage in the UK.

Responding to criticism from the industry following the release this week of the government’s white paper on the housing sector, Barwell admitted that the ideas and policies presented would only offer “small adjustments” to improve what the government described on Tuesday when the white paper was released as a “broken” property market.

Barwell said there was not one single way to improve things but that together a variety of “small adjustments” would help improve the property market.

The Minister went through the white paper, outlining the suggestions that it contained and emphasising the importance of having the right homes in the right places and that homes must be built faster.

Barwell said the main thrust of the white paper to enable this to happen is to stop developers holding onto land after they have acquired it and by accelerating the planning approvals process by reducing the limit councils have to approve applications for new homes from three years’ to two.

Barwell said: ““I expect developers to up their game and if they don't, I shall give extra powers… to ensure that happens.”

At the end of the conference Mr Barwell allowed agents to put questions to him, though all questions were prepared in advance and vetted before the host asked Barwell the questions rather than direct from the delegates themselves.

Following the release of the white paper, Mark Hayward, Managing Director, NAEA said: “Only 32,000 affordable homes were built in 2016, and this is totally unacceptable, especially given the number of homes we really need. We’ve had years of empty promises now and this has exacerbated the problem resulting in the price of properties being out of reach for so many.

“The announcement the Government plans to diversify the market by opening it up to smaller builders who embrace innovative and efficient methods is great and could go some way in helping deliver a vast number of homes quickly. However, it’s vital the Government considers the cost of building modular homes and understands these could remain unaffordable and unsuitable for FTBs.”