New house price figures show planning liberalisation more urgent that ever
16 September 2014
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Commenting on the news that house prices have reached a record high across the UK, Mark Littlewood, Director General at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said:
“Whilst deeply concerning, these figures are unsurprising considering that politicians of all stripes continue to turn a blind eye to mounting evidence that inflexible planning restrictions on greenfield and green belt sites are a key driver of house price rises.
“For more than three decades the UK has been building fewer new homes per head than any major country in Europe. Residential floorspace per household is now the lowest in Western Europe. These stark figures reveal just how hard life is for many families. It is more urgent than ever that we start to expand our meagre supply of housing.”
Notes to Editors:
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
“Whilst deeply concerning, these figures are unsurprising considering that politicians of all stripes continue to turn a blind eye to mounting evidence that inflexible planning restrictions on greenfield and green belt sites are a key driver of house price rises.
“For more than three decades the UK has been building fewer new homes per head than any major country in Europe. Residential floorspace per household is now the lowest in Western Europe. These stark figures reveal just how hard life is for many families. It is more urgent than ever that we start to expand our meagre supply of housing.”
Notes to Editors:
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems.
The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
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