Responding to recommendations from the Planning Inspectors’ Report on the South East Regional Spatial Strategy, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) Stewart Baseley has hit out against the suggestion of annual housebuilding targets for the region of 32,000 homes.

The HBF argues that to consistently provide the full range of housing needed by communities across the region, taking into account the backlog of previously unmet demand, requires a net addition of some 40,000 new homes a year.

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Mr Baseley said: "Thirty-two thousand new homes per year will not go anywhere near meeting the clear housing need in the region. This is less than required to meet Government household growth projections. There is a clear need for 40,000 new homes per year to meet the accumulated and growing housing shortfall in the South East.

"Without sufficient homes, the social consequences for families in the region will be dire. With housing affordability already stretched to the limit, these woefully inadequate targets will mean more people than ever will be excluded from home ownership."

(CL/SP)