If new figures on household growth are accurate, we are heading for a housing shortage and even higher prices unless we build significantly more houses, writes Steve Wilcox, from the University of York, in the latest UK Housing Review 2006/7.

The number of households in England is now projected to grow at around 210,000 per year, thanks to a higher number of smaller family units and increasing inward migration. Plans to build 200,000 new dwellings per year by 2016, would still represent a shortfall and Government should monitor household growth closely and constantly review its own targets.

Steve Wilcox’s analysis of housing supply and affordability and critical evaluation of the impact of the Right to Buy policy is based on the most up-to-date housing statistics.

The UK Housing Review is published by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Council of Mortgage Lenders and statistics include house prices and market trends, UK and international economic trends, public expenditure plans, housing stock and conditions and subsidies, tax relief and benefits.

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Issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, Media Relations Officer, CIH Press Office, Octavia House, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JP. Telephone 024 7685 1780. Fax: 024 7642 1756. Mob: 07786 716961. E-mail: press@cih.org

Editors Notes:

The UK Housing Review 2006/7 is published by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Council of Mortgage Lenders and is available for £40 from www.cih.org/publications or by calling 02476 851700.

The CIH is the professional body for individuals working in housing. Its primary aim is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the well-being of communities. CIH has over 19,500 individual members working for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Further information is available at: www.cih.org

‘Making the Case for Housing’ is a CIH initiative to influence the next Comprehensive Spending Review. It highlights the work of the housing sector not only in helping to deliver sustainable communities but also in supporting a much wider set of social priorities such as raising educational performance, improving health and reducing crime. Continued investment in housing is critical if we are to achieve our mission of contributing to the well-being of communities.