Andy Burnham's council housebuilding drive confronts severe shortfall

UK Housing Secretary Andy Burnham has pledged to launch the biggest council‑housebuilding programme since the post‑war era, aiming for 1.5 million new homes before the next election and a construction rate of 300,000 homes a year. Current forecasts show the target is already off‑track, with only about 840,000 homes expected to be under construction by mid‑2029.

The shortfall is linked to Brexit, which analysts say has cut the construction workforce by more than 200,000 and driven up material costs by roughly 60 % in the UK versus 35 % in the EU. Over 1.3 million households remain on the social‑housing waiting list. The government has earmarked £39 billion for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, intended to deliver around 300,000 properties within the overall target. Council homes, owned by local authorities, offer rents at about half the market rate, but the shortage of affordable units and rising welfare costs pose a major challenge.