Recruitment set to thwart ambition to build 1.5 million homes, warns industry boss

Sector is suffering from a ‘dangerous' shortage of builders

- MILLIE COOKE

Labour’s plan to tackle the housing crisis is unachievable, the construction industry has warned, saying it simply does not have enough workers to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years.

Angela Rayner last weekend said there was “no excuse” not to meet the target and Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on that pledge, committing to the creation of a generation of new towns with spades in the ground before the next election in 2029.

But the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), which supports and represents builders, has poured cold water on the plans, warning that the sector “simply doesn’t have the workforce to build it”.

While Sir Keir has said ministers are “urgently using all levers available to build the homes we need so more families can get on the housing ladder”, the CCS said the government’s major infrastructure projects are at risk because of a “black hole in recruitment”.

“Moving forward with this bold building plan without addressing the recruitment crisis is not only short-sighted but also dangerous when builders are already under immense pressure”, its executive chair Amit Oberoi told The Independent.