Despite both of the UK’s major parties’ stated ambitions to tackle the housing crisis, their manifesto plans fall short given the scale of the problem

Analysis of the the Conservative manifesto pledge to build a million homes by the end of 2020 has revealed that this will result in an increase of just 9,000 a year.

Using ONS projected household growth and the current rate of housebuilding, England is predicted to face a housing shortfall beginning in 2025 with an initial deficit of 877 homes and just over 25.2m households.  From that point on, the country is expected to face a widening deficit, reaching 452,598 homes or 1.6% by 2039. England will then be home to an estimated 27,551,000 dwellings and 28,003,598 households.

In London, a shortfall has existed since 2014 when it reached 24,057 homes or 0.7%. It reached 3.8% or 139,919 homes this year and by 2022 it is predicted the deficit will reach 7.3% or 288,623 homes, even with the Labour and Tory manifesto pledges factored in.

At current housebuilding rates, London’s deficit will climb to an estimated 731,724 homes or 15.1% come 2039 as the capital grows to an expected 4.8m households