Half a billion bricks are currently unused in factory yards across Britain, according to a warning from the GMB Union. This quantity, estimated to be enough to construct 50,000 homes, has added pressure to the government's objective of building 1.5 million homes by the next general election.
The government's target requires an annual construction rate of 300,000 houses. However, data compiled by the BBC indicates that around 203,000 homes were built in the 12 months leading up to June.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner acknowledged that the government has only a "slim" chance of achieving the 1.5 million homes target. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Rayner attributed the slow progress to "headwinds" caused by the Iran war, impacting construction costs. She also noted that home starts have accelerated by 15 per cent since last year and highlighted the recent allocation of £10bn for the social and affordable homes programme.
Lewis Parmenter, a brickworker, told GMB's congress that without increased homebuilding, the industry could face job losses, including his own.