Building micro-homes is popular option for beating housing crisis

 
Building more micro-homes in urban areas - and more co-living developments - is right at the top of the list of people’s preferred solutions to the housing crisis, according to new report by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), while building on the greenbelt is the least favoured solution.

The FMB asked 2,000 home owners across the UK how best to address the housing shortage:

1. Build more co-living developments (33%);
2. Build more micro-homes in urban areas (31%);
3. Build more granny flats (31%);
4. Extend permitted development rights (27%);
5. Encourage more multi-generational living (24%);
6. Excavate or convert more basements underneath existing properties (18%); and
7. Build on the greenbelt (17%).

Commenting on the research, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Even the vast majority of those who are lucky enough to own their own home recognise that there’s a housing shortage. When asked about solutions to this problem, the most popular remedy was to construct more co-living developments, which are becoming more and more popular in major cities right across the globe. Building more micro-homes in urban areas was the second most commonly cited solution to the UK housing crisis. Both of these approaches would increase density in urban areas where demand is particularly high.

"The creation of more granny flats was the third most popular solution, which would see more elderly people moving out of their properties and living alongside children or grandchildren in self-contained home extensions. This would free up much-needed family homes, which are being under-used by older people living on their own. Perhaps unsurprisingly, home owners, who are clearly already on the property ladder, see building on the greenbelt as the least desirable option.”

Image courtesy Zedbox