Support for development on their doorstep is highest among younger adults, with 51% of Generation Z saying yes to new homes locally, followed by 48% of millennials, 42% of Gen X and 37% of baby boomers.
Some 22% of adults are against the development of new housing estates on their doorstep – with not-in-my-backyard (Nimby) sentiment rising with age from 16% among Gen Z to 26% among baby boomers, according to Barclays Property Insights data.
However, support remains higher than opposition, even among older respondents.
More than a quarter of consumers said additional GP and healthcare capacity would encourage them to be supportive of housebuilding, while a loss of green space (61%), pressure on local services (57%) and insufficient infrastructure (52%) are the biggest barriers to support. Only 7% said they oppose development because it could reduce the value of their own home.
Buyer intentions have also shifted in recent years, which could reshape the demand for different property types. Barclays mortgage data shows that the majority of property purchases are for houses. Almost 82% of first-time buyers bought a house in July rather than a flat, with 88.6% of non-first-time buyers opting for a house.
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Support for social housing
More than 30% of UK adults want the government to prioritise building social or affordable housing, a sentiment that coincides with today’s announcement that more than 70,000 social and affordable homes will be built in England over the next decade.
An initial allocation of almost £10bn will fund the programme, with cash allocated to Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North East England, and Liverpool. An additional £6bn was previously announced for London.
Jatin Patel, head of mortgages, savings and insurance at Barclays, said: “New homes are critical to easing tension in the housing supply, but attitudes towards development are nuanced. While UK consumers are broadly supportive of efforts to increasing housing supply, this has to be in step with investment in local infrastructure, healthcare and transport links.”
