In the UK, the lack of new homes being built is not due to restrictive planning laws but rather the poor performance of housebuilders in constructing homes, according to Craig Bennett, the head of one of the UK’s biggest nature charities, the Wildlife Trusts. Despite there being planning permission for a million new homes, the construction industry is falling short. Bennett argues that this is because large housebuilders prefer to hold land and wait for prices to rise, making profits through land speculation as much as through building houses.
Ministers have defended their “swingeing reforms” to the planning system, claiming that such changes will pave the way for the 1.5m new homes promised in the Labour manifesto. However, Bennett insists that this hope is misguided, as the main problem lies with the housebuilders’ motivation not to build.
Housebuilders have rejected Bennett’s analysis, stating that they deliver a range of high-quality, environmentally friendly homes for all budgets with high customer satisfaction levels. They claim that the myth of land banking has been debunked by independent experts.
The Wildlife Trusts, as a charity, remains non-partisan but is critical of how planning regulation and environmental protection have become political issues. The Labour government has been accused by green groups of “scapegoating” nature for its stance on speeding up construction by reducing environmental concerns.
Bennett suggests that new housing can coexist with nature if housebuilders are given clearer direction and focus on building affordable homes rather than expensive “executive” homes. He also points to the poor construction quality of many new homes and the lack of green space incorporated into developments as reasons why they are often rejected by communities.
Bennett emphasizes the economic value of charities like the Wildlife Trusts, which employ thousands across the UK and underpin local economies. He argues that all voters, regardless of demographics or political leanings, care deeply about their local environment and the state of nature.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/01/uk-housebuilders-very-bad-at-building-houses-says-wildlife-charity-ceo
