Number of new builds per year/style of construction.-a query

CLAPTON

Cornucopia wrote: »

Yes.



Overall, I am suggesting that the big builders are limiting supply in some circumstances to suit their own agendas. Going into that further, and in the light of the risk of land purchase costs being defrayed over time, it seems like there is a triple imperative at work - (a) to make absolutely sure that excess demand ensures a speedy sale, (b) to maintain tight control over costs, and (c) to encourage prices upwards.

I agree it is a common view but there doesn't seem to be the evidence to support this; the barriers to entry aren't the cartel of big builders but the government planners.
During the period 2008-2012, several builders almost went bankrupt which doesn't seem consistent with deliberately restricting supply.

Cornucopia

I'm still unclear why you think that 2008-12 (one of the most severe financial crises of modern times) is relevant to now.

CLAPTON

Cornucopia wrote: »

I'm still unclear why you think that 2008-12 (one of the most severe financial crises of modern times) is relevant to now.

I assumed your comments were about the long term behaviour of the builders restricting building and about the economics of building in general. It seems to me we have been building too few houses for at at least 20 years
What period of time are you talking about?

martinsurrey

Cornucopia wrote: »

And the fact that the big builders are holding lots of land.

you keep saying this.

the big 3 builders hold 5 years of land with planning at their current rates, 200k plots, that's 0.4 years worth of what the nation needs, hardly lots.

If you nationalised them and build every one of their plots tomorrow you STILL wouldn't have enough to meet a single years required builds (150k "natural" + 200K nationalised = 350k.

The year after, what would you do? You'd need to find 250k building plots (the 44k they naturally build, plus the 200k you forced through), where are they going to come from?

I'll give you a hint, RELAXED PLANNING REQUIREMENTS, and LOWER BUILDING REGULATIONS.

You do know about the new regulations coming in on space of houses for new builds, your trailers and tiny spaces would be illegal.