Council Bribes & Green rules add tens of thousands to new house costs.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

The community infrastructure levy is part of the problem, not the solution: in some areas it will add £40,000 to the cost of building a new four-bedroom property.

Excessive environmental legislation, too, is adding unnecessary cost to house-building. New homes should be required to have excellent insulation, but by 2016 the building regulations will go far further, demanding that all new homes be carbon neutral. Nick Boles’s own department (Planning) has estimated that these regulations will add £38,000 – 50 per cent – to the cost of building a four-bedroom home.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/to-have-a-broom-cupboard-of-ones-own-why-solving-the-housing-crisis-is-not-an-impossible-dream-8448613.html

Interesting stuff.

So a bog standard 4 bed Barratt rabbit hutch costs 76K to build, PLUS up to 40K in council bribes, PLUS an additional 38K in green regulation costs by 2016, PLUS the land, PLUS builders profits.

It's a miracle they're still on sale in some parts of the country for under 200K... But I guarantee they won't be by 2016.

I can foresee a boom in older house prices as people are priced out of new builds in the near future.

Masomnia

This surprises me <0.

Carl31

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

I can foresee a boom in older house prices as people are priced out of new builds in the near future.

After growing up in an older house, and recently living in a new build, I can safely say whatever house I buy will be at least 20 years old

New builds are crap, and I certainly wouldn't pay those sort of prices to live in one

shortchanged_2

So what happens if people can't afford these prices Hamish?

ILW

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/to-have-a-broom-cupboard-of-ones-own-why-solving-the-housing-crisis-is-not-an-impossible-dream-8448613.html

Interesting stuff.

So a bog standard 4 bed Barratt rabbit hutch costs 76K to build, PLUS up to 40K in council bribes, PLUS an additional 38K in green regulation costs by 2016, PLUS the land, PLUS builders profits.

It's a miracle they're still on sale in some parts of the country for under 200K... But I guarantee they won't be by 2016.

I can foresee a boom in older house prices as people are priced out of new builds in the near future.

So, by withdrawing from the EU "green" regs we could save nearly £40k on the cost of new houses?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

ILW wrote: »

So, by withdrawing from the EU "green" regs we could save nearly £40k on the cost of new houses?

This has nothing to do with the EU.

It's a UK government initiative and would exist whether or not we stay in the EU.

Why These Plans are Being Developed

The UK Government has set itself a target of 60% reduction of its total CO2 emissions by 2050. Statistics show that of that total, buildings within the UK are responsible for 21%. This includes both residential houses and business buildings, including industrial.

http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/carbonneutralplansfortheuk.html

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

shortchanged wrote: »

So what happens if people can't afford these prices Hamish?

They rent, share housing, live in smaller places, or move to cheaper areas.

The same as now.

grizzly1911

The community infrastructure levy is part of the problem, not the solution: in some areas it will add £40,000 to the cost of building a new four-bedroom property.

Now what should infrastructure levys be used for?

It wouldn't be the infrastructure that the house needs to allow it to be usable, provide transport links, school improvements, medical improvements, play areas, shops, installing utility capacity?

Whether it gets used for what it is intended is another matter.

I do think some of the ultra green initiatives are ludicrous and unsustainable.

CLAPTON

the levys are for 'local infrastructure' i.e. roads, surgeries, open spaces etc etc or a direct amount of cash paid direct to the local council

plus there are 'affordable' housing levys so that 30% of newbuild properties are 'affordble' (subsidised)

plus of course in 2016 all new housing must be carbon neutral


idiots and politicians thinks these costs are carried by the builder; normal people know it's the end buyer that either pays too much and/or gets small substandard housing

some people think that as the council will get extra council tax income from the new homes for the next 100 years, they should use this to build whatever infrastrure is needed.

grizzly1911

CLAPTON wrote: »

some people think that as the council will get extra council tax income from the new homes for the next 100 years, they should use this to build whatever infrastrure is needed.

Or pay pension liabilities.;)

It does make you wonder how the massive utility projects were funded in the dim and distant past. The vast resevoirs like Elan Valley, Haweswater, Thirlmere and the pipework to feed Manchester and Birmingham.

Those people running those authorities must have had vision.

Generali

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Or pay pension liabilities.;)

It does make you wonder how the massive utility projects were funded in the dim and distant past. The vast resevoirs like Elan Valley, Haweswater, Thirlmere and the pipework to feed Manchester and Birmingham.

Those people running those authorities must have had vision.

At least in the early days, utility companies were owned by local councils. Local councils were run and paid for by voters who were 'rich' and thus also paying the bills.

These days the majority of the electorate are taking money out not putting it in so governance isn't their problem.