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[Lid]

It also begs the question yet again as to why we actually need any more homes at all. Our own current population is not growing, so the main increase must be from European migrants and non European immigrants. Both these factors are in our control if we wanted them to be! Some experts also tell us that there is an increase in people leaving home, for want of a better phrase. I'm not sure if I buy that excuse though.

[jonmorris]

I thought at one time more people were leaving than coming in, but it seems to simply be that everyone wants to live in or around London.

Why in this day and age does everyone need to still work in town? Why does every HQ have to be in WC1? We all use email, socialise on Facebook and use our mobiles.

Sure, teleworking doesn't work for all and we need real social contact - but it's mad to think that we could one day have most of the population down here.

Housing is so much less of a problem elsewhere (bar major cities perhaps). Why can't we spread things about?

[mythoughts]

I think the credit crunch will put a stop to all this....

[AFC]

I think the credit crunch will put a stop to all this....

I'm not so sure with this kind of housing available.


http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/BUSINESS04/805130314

[mythoughts]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/money/property_and_mortgages/article3949822.ece

Top estate agents firm close to collapse after credit crunch

[Rocket_fan]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/money/property_and_mortgages/article3949822.ece

Top estate agents firm close to collapse after credit crunch

This is when you know its hurting, when an estate agent feels the pinch.

[George]

They've just not asked the right people about the effects of this plan nor have they thought through the consequences of the plan.

I suggest the whole focus of concern towards the subject of house building is misplaced. It's too late. All we're trying to say is: "Yes we accept the need for millions of new homes in the UK but we don't want them here in Welwyn Hatfield. Build them somewhere else". In  my view, that's unrealistic.

The concern should be to stem or reverse the need for so many new homes in the first place, e.g.

1. Policies to encourage more people to live together or avoid splitting up, when they are living together.
2. Policies to limit population growth. The population of the UK is increasing too fast. If you're happy about that, you have to accept we need more houses.
3. Policies to limit the number of second homes, one of which normally sits unoccupied.

The other main factor must be people living longer but there's not much we can do about that, is there?

[pjb]

The other main factor must be people living longer but there's not much we can do about that, is there?

Why not a policy to encourage people not to live so long?

It has as much chance of success as any of the other policy areas you mention.

[AFC]

Perhaps an age tax where you pay more the older you get

[mythoughts]

Why not a policy to encourage people not to live so long?

The health quango, The National Institute for Clinical Excelence and Lord Darzi has already got that one covered

[jonmorris]

Why not just close most of the hospitals so people will die before they get treatment. Oh, wait....!

I like reading the property sections in the papers that say "Dalston is now becoming a sought after area' when it really means Dalston, Tottenham or (insert run down place name here) is now the only place anyone stands any chance of being able to buy a place in.

When all these new tiny boxes are built, they'll sell obviously - but they'll be just that, tiny boxes, with horrid build quality. Of course, I'm waiting to meet the first person that can honestly say their new build property didn't have any problems - but I suspect they'll cure cancer before that happens.

[mythoughts]

Dalston is now becoming a sought after area'

By drug dealers probably...

[Rocket_fan]

When there are so many properties in and around Hatfield empty why do we need more building  When the students vacate for the summer there's even more empty properties 

[MikeHobday]

When there are so many properties in and around Hatfield empty why do we need more building  When the students vacate for the summer there's even more empty properties 

Because people are living for longer and need homes for longer, because couples are splitting up more and often want two homes large enough for their children, because there are several thousand people on the council waiting list and because the shortgage of homes contributes to prices being so high that young people cannot afford their own homes. The question to me is not whether we need tens of thousands of extra homes in Hertfordshire and the South East, but where to put them.
Mike

[Lid]

Surely if the population is getting older, a good proportion of those people go into care homes too, so not as many properties are being held back as we think?

If we must have more dwellings here, then let's use all the brownfield sites and the empty residential properties first, before building in the green belt. And as pointed out previously, there is more room elsewhere in the country.