Housing shortages persist despite government targets in UK and Australia

Housing delivery continues to lag behind government targets in both the United Kingdom and Australia, driven by planning complexities and infrastructure constraints.

In England, record numbers of households are living in temporary accommodation, including over 177,000 children. While the government has pledged £39 billion for affordable and social housing over ten years with a target of 1.5 million new homes, industry experts warn that financial viability and lengthy administrative processes remain significant hurdles. Specifically, the time required to finalize Section 106 agreements—legally binding deals between developers and councils regarding infrastructure and affordable housing—can delay projects for up to a year.

In Western Australia, the state is currently falling short of the National Housing Accord target of 129,000 new homes by June 2029. Although construction is at near-record levels, the state has averaged 5,330 completions per quarter, falling short of the required 6,450. Projections suggest that due to development constraints and a lack of essential infrastructure on zoned land, the target may not be met until 2031 or 2032.