Published today are some astonishing facts from the Home Builders Federation that hammer home the shocking challenge faced by first time buyers.
Across the UK first time buyers have to save 45% of their take home pay every month for 5 years to afford a deposit.
Even with absolutely no outgoings they would have to save their entire take home pay for more than 2 years to afford a deposit.
The average deposit across the UK is 230% that of average salaries – almost 300% in London.
The average age of the first time buyer has now gone up to 37.
In 2009 there were fewer homes built than in any peacetime year since 1924.
However a white paper released today (Local Growth) has promised a new streamlined planning system.
Local Growth sets out plans for sustainable development in local areas backed by 24 local enterprise partnerships (LEPs).
This new system is a complete pendulum shift in favour of a presumption for development. Until today our planning system had been based on the 1955 Town & Country planning act favouring a presumption against development.
Unlocking land, building more houses is not just a matter of need and necessity it is now a matter of certainty.