Introducing Brick by Brick: Rebuilding Britain's housing
Our new series - by Westminster Editor Zoë Grünewald - will push for the government to go far beyond its promise of 1.5 million new homes, and to revolutionise how we see housing in the UK.
The Conservative government has left the UK with a bigger housing shortage than the Blitz. It’s a startling statement, but it’s true: World War Two left the UK needing 750,000 new homes. The housing deficit when Labour came to power in July was more than five times that number - at a conservative estimate. But while the end of that war was marked by a record surge of housing, the political will to solve the crisis today on anything like the level of ambition it requires has all but disappeared.
This housing crisis has been years in the making, driven by policy failures, market forces, and political short-sightedness. Successive governments have neglected housebuilding, with annual construction consistently falling short of the estimated 300,000 new homes needed every year. In 2020, only 216,000 homes were built - well below the target.
The booming housing market, driven by a dearth of supply, benefited wealthy, middle-class homeowners as property values soared. Between 1996 and 2018, average UK house prices increased by 281 per cent, making it even harder for first-time buyers to get a foot on the ladder. Local planning restrictions and bureaucratic delays hindered new developments, with no government willing to reform the outdated planning system; in 2021 alone, nearly 60 per cent of major housing projects saw delays due to planning disputes.
The "Right to Buy" scheme introduced under Margaret Thatcher’s governance in 1980 allowed two million council tenants to purchase their homes at a discount, stripped the social housing sector of millions of affordable homes, leading to a reduction in stock: the homes bought by tenants don’t revert to into the affordable housing pool but are sold on and on again, and the pool itself does not get replenished At the same time, private developers have focused on building expensive properties, with luxury flats in London forecast to increase by 20 per cent between 2021 and 2025. A lack of investment in public housing, combined with an overreliance on the private rental market (which now accommodates around 20 per cent of UK households), has left the UK with a housing shortfall that worsens each year.
Despite the pressing need for more housing, the readiest excuse is that we can’t afford to build more. But the truth is it costs the taxpayer far more to not build houses than to build them. With homeownership out of reach for many, people find themselves pushed into the private rental sector, where they face insecure, overpriced contracts with limited rights. Meanwhile, the government has left social housing stock to dwindle, leaving the vulnerable to suffer. Now, over 1.2 million people are on the waiting list for social housing, many living in substandard conditions for years. These homes often suffer from poor maintenance, with issues like damp, mould, and overcrowding leaving devastating effects on residents’ health and well-being.
From the archives
Housing sits at the root of many of modern Britain's social problems. The link between housing and health is undeniable—poor conditions are tied to a range of physical and mental health issues, from respiratory problems caused by dampness to stress and anxiety from overcrowded living spaces. Children in inadequate housing often face disruptions in their education, as frequent moves and instability make it hard to succeed in school. Living in cramped, unhealthy environments strains relationships and damages communities.
The housing crisis has also become fuel for far-right narratives. As the UK struggles to meet demand for affordable homes, some seek to scapegoat immigrants and asylum seekers, falsely blaming them for the shortage. This divisive rhetoric distracts from the real causes: underinvestment, flawed policies, and decades of neglect by successive governments. Immigrants face the same challenges as many British citizens in securing safe, affordable housing, and they are not responsible for the systemic failures that have led to this crisis.
Once a source of national pride, social housing in Britain has become synonymous with deprivation. In the post-war years, council housing symbolized progress and social cohesion. When Nye Bevan implemented the 1949 Housing Act to make council housing available to all, he envisioned a society where "the doctor, the grocer, the butcher, and the farm laborer" all lived on the same street. But starting policies like "Right to Buy" dismantled this communitarian vision. Property and ownership became king. Council homes were sold off without being replaced, and social housing became associated with poverty, social decline and a lack of aspiration.
Labour’s promise to build 1.5 million homes is a good start, of course. So is the turning of tables on NIMBY councils and the renter rights bill. But as of the time of writing, the promise is still worryingly vague. How many of these homes will be affordable? And what does affordable mean? Does Labour plan to clean up more of the toxic mess that is Britain’s housing sector, or does it merely plan to build on top of it?
From the archives
It is time to reconsider how we treat our home. Social housing must once again be seen as the route to a stable, just society - the foundations for people being able to build their lives and our country embarking on the road to recovery. This editorial is the first in a series of features, articles, and campaigns tackling the state of housing in the UK.
Over the coming weeks, we will highlight expert perspectives, investigative reports, and personal stories that shine a light on the issues and solutions around social housing. Through in-depth analysis, we aim to untangle the policies, market dynamics, and historical factors that have contributed to the current crisis.
Our goal is to elevate the voices of those who understand the complexities, foster a broader understanding of the reforms needed to reshape housing in the UK, and to get the new government to commit to clear-eyed, ambitious targets on housing - and to live up to those commitments.
Previous governments have fallen disastrously behind on their obligations and there is no time to waste. But the quality and affordability of housing matters, too. Good housing has the power to enhance health, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of national pride. Housing can not become a luxury of the wealthy. Restoring the UK's social housing stock is not just a practical necessity; it is a moral imperative.