Specialist finance can help tackle the UK’s housing shortage, according to analysis from West One Loans.
Research found that over the past five years, an average of 231,234 net additional dwellings have been delivered each year across England.
The South East saw the highest average annual delivery at 40,458 homes.
Labour pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by 2030, needing 370,000 homes a year.
West One Loans’ data showed that at current rates, it could take nearly 12 years to meet this target, compared to the five-year timeframe set out in Labour’s manifesto.
The firm said specialist finance, such as bridging and development loans, can help speed up housing delivery.
Thomas Cantor, co-head of short-term finance at West One Loans, said: “While new homes are being delivered, the current pace is not enough to meet national housing demand and, based on the average number of homes delivered over the last five years, we’re already starting on the back foot when it comes to addressing the housing crisis.
“We simply can’t afford the luxury of a slow start to Labour’s housing delivery ambitions and, in this respect, the specialist finance sector can play a pivotal role in driving market activity.
“Bridging and development finance provide the flexibility and speed developers need to unlock projects and bring forward housing that may otherwise remain stalled.”
Cantor added: “They enable the use of complex or off-market sites, support smaller SME housebuilders who often face barriers to traditional lending, and can accelerate conversions, refurbishments, and regeneration schemes.
“By helping developers act quickly and with confidence, these solutions not only increase the quantity of homes delivered but also promote innovation, urban renewal, and greater diversity in the housing market, all of which are essential to closing the supply gap and meeting the country’s housing targets by 2030.”
