Merseyside could see an increase in new social housing as a result of measures introduced in last week’s Budget.
Onward Homes, one of the largest registered providers of social housing in the North West of England, currently builds around 500 homes each year.
With increased funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the organisation aims to boost delivery by 50%, with roughly a third of the new homes planned for Merseyside.
The Government’s latest budget renewed promises on warm homes and energy efficiency, building on their previous commitment of £39bn to affordable housing.
Onward Homes Executive Director of Growth, Sandy Livingstone, said: “This will change the dial significantly. I think across the social housing sector, you can see that that’s a game changer.”
Housing associations will be more equipped to make homes more sustainable with increased investment.
Livingstone said: “What it does, is allow us to retrofit the homes that we already own.”
JJ Smith Woodworking Machinery, a leading international supplier of woodworking equipment used to build homes, is based in Knowsley.
Managing Director, Rachel Baker, said: “Liverpool City region, in particular, is in an amazing position, we have got brownfield land, we’ve got lots and lots of spaces where we can build homes.
“There are lots of other parts of the country that don’t have that and I think we really need to capitalise on it.”
Baker also highlighted challenges facing the industry, including an ageing workforce in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
She said: “I think there’s a huge amount that needs to be done in terms of the skills gap that’s coming.
“So, within construction and within manufacturing I think the current figures are about a quarter of the workforce are going to retire within the next 10 years.”
Livingstone said: “We probably haven’t been as successful as we should have been encouraging people to work in construction and property. My view is that if you work in housing, you have a job for life.”
Other challenges to the sectors include the effects of climate change, limited land availability, and the rising costs of building and maintaining homes.
With large numbers of people in temporary accommodation there is a need to address these challenges.
Baker said: “Until we have got everybody out of temporary accommodation who is in temporary accommodation we have not solved the problem and the route to doing that is to build lots of very good high-quality homes.”
Featured image:
