The poll, conducted by the New Homes Marketing Board (NHMB), showed that over a third of respondents felt the shortage was a ‘very important’ national issue, while a further 45 per cent felt it was ‘fairly important.’ Less than 10 per cent said it was unimportant.
However, a significant number of adults believed that the green belt was decreasing and house builders were holding onto land that could be built on.
The green belt has increased by around 65,000 acres in the last decade, while house builders do not have land holdings beyond immediate business needs. This was confirmed by the government’s Barker Report into Housing Supply in 2004 and the Home Builders Federation’s recent submission to the Callcutt Review.
David Pretty, chairman of the NHMB, said: “As a snapshot of the British public’s thinking, this poll is both encouraging and disturbing. When it comes to the detail, significant numbers of people still buy into old myths and many more are confused or unsure about the implications for themselves, their communities and the nation.”
Martin Wade, director of Mortgage Options, said: “With the population growth over the next 10 years, demand will continue to outstrip supply. It’s very difficult to see how it can be addressed without government backed schemes.”
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