More than half of housebuilders increased the rate at which they built new homes over the last year and predict a further rise over the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Despite this, less than half of housebuilders think the Government target of building 300,000 homes a year on average by the mid-2020s is achievable.  

The survey of more than 400 housebuilding companies in England was carried out for McBains, a construction consulting and design agency. More than half of respondents overall (57%) reported that they had increased their rate of housebuilding over the last 12 months. On average, housebuilders said they had built 201 homes over the last year. This was expected to rise to 297 over the next 12 months, an increase of almost 48%.  

However, respondents to the survey cited worries over land availability, slow planning permission and skills shortages as barriers to preventing them building more homes. Around half of respondents (48%) said these factors would also make it difficult for the government to meet its target of building 300,000 homes a year on average by the mid-2020s.

The main findings of the survey were:

- More than half of respondents overall (57%) reported they had increased their rate of housebuilding over the last 12 months, rising to 66% in London. 11% decreased their rate while for 32% the rate stayed the same.