With our latest research showing that more than half of homeowners do not want any new homes built locally in the next year, our Chairman, Nick Leeming, calls for YIMBYism.

 Our latest analysis of the property market, which investigated the views of over 1,200 people on their feelings towards housing, reveals that the majority of UK homeowners (74%) feel it is difficult for first time buyers to get on the property ladder. Yet, 51% do not want wish to see any new homes built within their locality.

The reality is that we are suffering from an acute housing crisis and, at present, only 6% of the UK is built on. As a result, 22% of first-time buyers are turning to the Bank of Mum and Dad to raise their deposit. Many may not realise it but parental financial assistance is becoming much more widely accepted as a solution, but the welcoming of new local homes could achieve far more in the long term.

Our research found that just under half of respondents regard themselves as NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) and more than 70% claim that protecting the greenbelt is more important than building new homes. The UK population is expected to surpass 70 million in just eight years’ time, and so if we are to meet this increase in demand and ensure homes can be delivered quickly for future generations I urge the NIMBYs amongst us to challenge themselves to be more accepting of new housing plans where homes are urgently needed.

The Government has recently announced a raft of measures to stimulate housebuilding, including warning local councils that they could be stripped of planning powers if they do not achieve their targets. Local communities should therefore be encouraged to play an active role in enabling development and challenge themselves to become a YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard).

YIMBYism would allow for the swift delivery of new homes that conform to local need and architecture and would help to lessen the housing shortages the UK is facing at present.