Every government promises it. Every housing secretary repeats it. Every manifesto includes it. Build 300,000 new homes a year or numbers around that...The supposed fix to the UK’s broken housing market.
But behind the headlines and political noise lies a different story—one of trade shortages, planning bottlenecks, and missed deadlines.
So let’s ask the question nobody in power seems willing to answer: Can the UK actually build 300,000 homes a year?
Let’s Look at the Numbers
In the 2022-23 financial year, 234,400 net additional dwellings were delivered in England.
That was the highest in over 30 years. And it still missed the 300,000 target by a wide margin.
In 2023-24, that number dropped.
And let’s be clear: net additional dwellings include change-of-use conversions and office-to-resi schemes, not just new builds.
To consistently hit 300,000+ homes per year, we’d need:
- A skilled workforce capable of delivering 25,000+ new homes per month
- A planning system that works efficiently
- Local councils with resources to deliver and approve schemes
None of these things are currently in place.
Skills Shortage: The Industry’s Open Secret
The construction industry is short of over 250,000 skilled workers. That’s the estimate from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Fewer apprentices are entering the trade. Brexit reduced the migrant workforce. Experienced tradespeople are retiring. And still, demand is rising.
A 2023 Home Builders Federation (HBF) report noted that the industry needs an additional 50,000 bricklayers, plumbers and electricians just to keep up with the current output, let alone scale it.
Planning Departments Are On Their Knees
Only one-third of local authorities in England have an up-to-date local plan, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Meanwhile, planning departments have faced 30–40% cuts in staff over the last decade. Approvals are delayed. Appeals are rising. Confidence in the system is falling.
Even when developers have land, they often sit on it. Why? Because navigating the planning process is unpredictable, slow, and politically charged.
Where’s the Incentive?
Building houses is a long game. Most big developers focus on margins, not volume.
The “build-to-sell” model thrives on gradual price growth, not mass production. Flooding the market lowers prices, which doesn’t help their bottom line.
Government schemes like Help to Buy may have helped slightly, but supply? That’s still stuck in the mud.
Political Promises vs Practical Reality
The 300,000 homes-a-year pledge sounds good on a podium. It reads well in a headline.
But it hasn’t been met once. Not by Labour. Not by the Conservatives. Not even close.
There are too many moving parts, and not enough parts that are moving:
- Not enough planners
- Not enough trades
- Not enough local delivery
We’re 100,000 homes short every single year. That’s like losing a city the size of Oxford annually.
So What’s the Answer?
Stop chasing a headline target and start focusing on real delivery.
Unlock small and medium-sized builders who’ve been squeezed out of the market. Fix planning. Train and pay skilled workers. Support modular construction.
And in the meantime, recognise the role of shared housing, conversions, and high-quality HMOs in relieving pressure.
Because the truth is: the UK can’t build its way out of this alone.
It’s time to stop pretending guys....
The 300,000 Homes-a-Year Target A Promise Built on Sand