CIB W116—Smart and Sustainable Built Environments - Test Input

Figure 1: Forecasted population increase to 2031 (ONS 2007)
1.1.2 Change in household culture
The second main driver for the demand is a change in household culture. The U.K. ONS report that
in 2006 13% of England’s population lived alone and that this number was to increase at a rate of
163,000 households per annum equating to two thirds of the total increase by 2031; increasing single
household occupancy to 18% (Household Projects 2009). In 2007 the UK government report that
housing stock was growing at 185,000 units a year with expected growth of 223,000 due to people
living alone (Homes for the Future 2007). The combined effect means the construction of millions of
homes.
1.2 Housing stock and new build targets
In 2005 the government acknowledged a need for major growth increasing housing supply in England
from 21.5 million homes to between 2.8 and 3.8 million by 2016, and a further 4.9 to 5.9 million by
2031 (A Sustainability Impact Study 2005). In the 2007 central government green paper ‘Homes for
the Future’ recognised the potential shortfall in housing supply and set a new target to supply 2
million homes in England by 2016 at a rate of approximately 240,000 per annum (Homes for the
Future 2007). Following target success the next milestone acknowledged and welcomed by the
Housing and Homelessness Charity; Shelter in October 2007 was the commitment to deliver another
250,000 houses per year from 2016 to 2020 amounting in total 3 million homes (Shelters Response
2007).
The Governments Planning Guidance Note 3 (PRG3), issued by the Secretary of State for London
Planning Authorities set out objectives for housing capacity studies in regional areas (Planning Policy
Guidance 2005). The subsequent London Housing Capacity Study published in 2005 calculated the
total capacity from 2007 to 2017 to be 315,327 new homes in London regions. This meant the
construction of 31,533 houses per year which was over and above the approximation of between
25,000 and 30,000 set out in the London Plan of 2004 (London Housing 2004). The study set
precedent for replica studies throughout England in order to meet housing demand (Planning Policy
Guidance 2000). Following industry consultation feedback was made supplement to the London Plan
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