Biggest UK housing firm to build fewer homes

Chief executive David Thomas said the firm was "well-positioned to meet the strong underlying demand for new homes". However, the firm forecasts it will only finish between 13,000 and 13,500 new homes next year. The government has made increasing the supply of housing a priority, pledging to build 1.5 million more homes in England over the next five years. Under the motto "get Britain building again" it has promised to reform the planning process, free up parts of the green belt, and reintroduce mandatory housing targets for local authorities. Mr Thomas said the firm welcomed the government's proposed reforms of the planning system as a "key lever to increase house building, drive economic growth and tackle the chronic under-supply of high-quality, sustainable homes".