HFi Today, January 2018

- Not since the moon landings have we built 300,000 houses a year

- Better Connections

- Modular Housing

- Next Housing Business Breakfast

Natalie Elphicke: Not since the moon landings have we built 300,000 houses a year

Yesterday, the HFi's Chief Executive, Natalie Elphicke wrote an article setting out the recent housebuilding success, the challenge the Government faces in achieving its 300,000 new homes target and some solutions. The solutions identified were to improve housing infrastructure, support housebuilders, encourage modular building, improving finance while also ensuring quality standards.

Natalie pointed out that there have been only six years since the Second World War that more than 300,000 homes a year have been completed in England. The last time it was achieved was the year of the Moon landing – 1969.

Dominic Raab, the new Housing Minister, faces a tough challenge in current market conditions as well as a tough target in 300,000 homes. This is set against a backdrop where the Prime Minister has raised the political stakes by making housing delivery her personal priority. So to succeed, the Government must activate the rocket boosters, adopt a radical new approach and then – and only then – will we see housebuilding at a rate last seen in England when Neil Armstrong made that giant leap for mankind 49 years ago.

Click here to read the article in full.

The article received significant media coverage with The Guardian reporting that the HFi was telling the Government to do more to meet its targets, calling for housing to be made a national infrastructure priority and that 300,000 homes had not been completed since 1969. As well as CityAM, which reported that the HFi are urging the Government to focus on modular construction as a way of meeting its targets.

Better Connections

Earlier this month the HFi held an event entitled 'Better Connections: Solving the housing crisis through infrastructure delivery' in Parliament.

The event was chaired by Stephen Hammond MP (Chair of the APPG on Infrastructure), with contributions from people on all sides of the debate – with MPs, water companies, developers, councils and financiers all in attendance.

The event was focused around the HFi's latest paper 'Better Connections', with discussion revolving around the issues with housing infrastructure, possible solutions to the issues with housing infrastructure and the recommendations of the report.

To read our paper on infrastructure delivery - 'Better Connections: Housing Infrastructure Recommendations' - click here.

Modular Housing

The HFi held its second Parliamentary event of the year last week. This was a round-table event on modular housing.

This event consisted of the key players in modular housing and investment with the event chaired by HFi Board Member, Lord Kerslake. Modular housebuilding was discussed in detail – with extensive discussion on the opportunities and impediments to modular housebuilding, and what can be done to ensure that modular housebuilding succeeds.

The discussion will form the basis of a new HFi report on modular housebuilding - coming soon.

Housing Business Breakfast

Our next Housing Business Breakfast will be held on 7 February at a central London location. This is a great opportunity to not only network, but also, discuss the most important issues facing the housing industry.

To reserve your place email events@thehfi.com

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