Gateshead falling way short of new homes requirement

New homes are not being delivered fast enough in Gateshead new figures from the Government have shown.

Published today, the Housing Delivery Test statistics show how each local authority across the country is delivering homes against requirements.

And data for the North East shows Gateshead is delivering just 50 per cent of the number of new homes it requires.

Stuart Natkus, planning director at Barton Willmore, said: “These new figures are interesting because Newcastle and Gateshead share a joint Core Strategy, and have all the same housing developers yet Gateshead is seriously lagging behind while Newcastle has delivered 244 per cent of its requirement.

“It begs the question as to why two neighbouring local authorities with the same strategy and set of developers have such wildly different delivery rates.

“If we want to ensure economic growth and prosperity on both sides of the Tyne, we need to see new homes being built.”

At the same time, the Government has made changes to planning policy.

The changes mean local planning authorities can continue to use household growth projections from 2014, compared with more recent data that showed the number of new households would fall in many areas.

Barton Willmore previously called for the Government not to water down housing targets or risk stunting economic growth and exacerbating affordability problems.

Stuart Natkus added: “We’re pleased the Government has, for now, reverted back to the 2014-based projections. By doing so the shortfall between the minimum need and the Government’s aspiration for 300,000 homes a year is reduced.

“However, this is only a temporary fix and we urge the Government to deliver policy that addresses actual housing need, as opposed to minimum need.

“National guidance on housing need must sharpen up to sustainably deliver the number of homes the country actually needs.”

The Housing Delivery Test: 2018 Measurement data shows more than 100 councils fall short of delivery requirements.

The data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-delivery-test-2018-measurement