National Challenges

Between 2001 and 2006 the population of the UK increased by 3%, to 60,587,300 people (according to mid-2006 estimates by the Office for National Statistics), making it the third largest population in the European Union.

People are living longer, household sizes are getting smaller, and the population continues to grow. All of which means that more new homes, jobs, services, and facilities are needed than ever before.

The challenge of providing for a growing community is one that is faced across the nation, and one that is supported at the national level by Communities and Local Government (CLG) who believe that, "everyone should have the opportunity to rent or buy a decent home at a price they can afford, in a place where they want to live and work".

By 2020 the Government expects an additional three million homes to be built in England, which will include many more affordable homes to rent or buy. It is imperative that all major new developments work in harmony with existing communities, and with each other. This is why Regional Spatial Strategies have been created for each region in England.

In addition to these housing targets, by 2016 all new homes that are built should be zero carbon, to minimise their impact on the environment.

Whilst ambitious housing targets are clearly justified given the existing shortage of both affordable and market level housing, and demographic projections, the credit crunch and wider economic downturn is having an impact on our ability to deliver at previous projected rates. Many sites have slowed down their build rates, or are delaying start dates for new developments.

Organisations such as Cambridgeshire Horizons are working hard to find ways in which development and infrastructure delivery can continue successfully in the current economic climate. This includes looking at innovative ways to provide community facilities to allow developers to concentrate on the delivery of new homes at the beginning of a new build.

Read more about Cambridgeshire Horizons and the funding sources they can access.