House building approvals drop to a 20-year low, builders and tradespeople are less willing to travel for work, and Belgian builders discover €9 worth of gold on site
The number of house building sites granted planning permission fell to a 20-year low in the first quarter — that’s according to the Home Builders Federation.
The Housing Pipeline Report indicated that only 408 sites with 10 or more homes received approval.
In total, just 54,000 units were given the green light — significantly below the level needed to fulfil the government’s ambition to build 300,000 homes a year.
Despite reforms to the planning system, increases in taxes and regulatory costs have made many homebuilding sites unviable, warned the HBF.
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Construction professionals are becoming less willing to travel for work, claims research from the CITB.
Its mobility report found a third of all labourers, builders and tradespeople work no more than 20 miles away from home.
Survey respondents said family, lifestyle, and personal circumstances were playing an increasingly important role in decisions about where to work.
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Builders in Belgium have discovered €9 million worth of gold sealed in the walls of a cellar.
The workers stumbled upon the loot while drilling to lay new sewage pipes.
The site was soon closed, and a police investigation was launched.
Under local law, the rightful owner has five years to claim the gold.
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