Housing commission sets out a radical new plan
Summary
The Prosper UK Housing Commission has published a report arguing that England’s housing crisis is being driven by both weak demand and poor scheme viability, and that both issues must be addressed together. It says rising build costs, flat prices and regulatory, policy and tax burdens are constraining delivery, while planning permissions have fallen to their lowest level since 2013 and temporary accommodation remains at record levels.
Why it matters
For residential property surveyors, the report signals continued pressure on development viability, planning pipelines and new-build delivery, all of which can affect valuation assumptions and market activity. It also highlights the growing influence of policy and regulation on build costs and scheme feasibility.
Key points
- Prosper UK Housing Commission says housing supply is constrained by both demand weakness and viability issues.
- The report links around half of the £76,000 rise in new-home build costs since 2020 to regulation, policy and tax.
- Planning permission in England fell to 209,781 homes in the year to September 2025, the lowest since 2013.
- The commission argues that demand-side and viability reforms must be combined with measures to increase supply.
- The article notes record levels of children in temporary accommodation and continued shortfalls against the Government’s housing target.
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