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Distance Learning Trade News
Housing supply improvements needed, minister claims
More homes need to be built to improve housing supply in the UK, according to the minister for housing and planning John Healey.
Mr Healey was speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing Conference and Exhibition in Harrogate, warning that there is a "medium-term fear" of soaring house prices.
An estimated 18,340 houses were started in England during the first quarter of 2009, down by 44 per cent compared to the same period in 2008.
The figure across England for the 2008/09 period was also 42 per cent lower than in 2007/08.
Mr Healy said: "There is a medium-term problem and that is a supply and demand problem.
"Demand may be depressed through this downturn, but quite clearly it is going to have a big mismatch in this country between the desire to meet homes and the current availability."
He underlined the importance of focusing on commissioning architects and tradesmen to build homes that "best meet the needs of the future".
