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<\/a><\/p>\nBarratt Redrow is working in partnership with the University of Salford on Energy House 2.0<\/p>\n
Where do you think the government could provide more support to help the housing market?<\/p>\n
There definitely needs to be more support for first-time buyers. While lenders have adjusted loan-to-value rates, the real challenge is deposits. For people in rented accommodation, saving a deposit can be extremely difficult, which is why shared equity schemes have worked so well.<\/p>\n
Under those schemes, buyers typically only needed a 5% deposit, with the remainder supported through a shared equity loan \u2013 such as Help to Buy \u2013 which was then repaid over time. In effect, it gave people what was almost an interest-free loan for the first five years, allowing them the breathing space to build up financially and eventually repay the equity loan. That support gave people a real opportunity to get onto the housing ladder.<\/p>\n
The scheme was very popular and, importantly, it also generated significant returns for the government through the repayment of equity loans. That\u2019s the type of support we would have liked to see referenced in the Budget, particularly given the strong emphasis on housebuilding and the government\u2019s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes over this Parliament.<\/p>\n
Are there any successful schemes Barratt Redrow has in place to support buyers in the North West?<\/p>\n
During COVID, we strongly recognised key workers through our Key Worker Deposit Contribution Scheme, and we saw a real uptake in sales at that time because of the support and the profile we gave the initiative. Since then, we\u2019ve reviewed the scheme\u2019s eligibility and expanded it in terms of who we offer it to.<\/p>\n
Affordability is key \u2013 there are many people who want to buy but can\u2019t. That key worker scheme really resonates with people. We see a lot of nurses, doctors, police officers, firefighters, and teachers buying through the scheme.<\/p>\n
What are Barratt Redrow\u2019s new development plans for 2026 in the North West?<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve got some really exciting schemes coming through. We have a strong development at Sundial Place<\/a> in Thornton, which continues to be very popular, and we\u2019ve delivered a significant number of homes across this area and in Formby. The wider Sefton area remains a key location for us.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve also recently secured planning for a major development in Kirkby, which forms part of the regeneration of the town centre. The scheme will deliver around 800 homes, across David Wilson Homes and Barratt, alongside a private rented element. It will be genuinely transformational.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve worked closely with the Liverpool City Region on that project, with grant funding in place as it\u2019s a brownfield site. Knowsley Council has been particularly proactive, making previously local authority-owned land available and prioritising viable development projects.<\/p>\n I think this is one of the real strengths of the North West. The presence of city region mayors gives the area an advantage that others don\u2019t always have. With leaders like Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham, there\u2019s a very proactive and ambitious approach to housebuilding targets, regeneration, and unlocking council land, alongside investment in infrastructure. There\u2019s also a strong focus on improving links between Liverpool and Manchester, which only strengthens the region further.<\/p>\n With ambitious housebuilding targets from the government, how is Barratt Redrow addressing both workforce and construction challenges?<\/p>\n One of the major challenges for the industry is how we bring more people in to build the homes we need. We do a significant amount of work with schools and colleges, focusing on engagement and encouraging people into the industry. We also work closely with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and the National House Building Council (NHBC) on this, but there is still a real skills shortage. Working more closely with local authorities to expand apprenticeships and create clearer pathways into the industry is going to be critical.<\/p>\n We have strong partnerships with our core subcontractors, but if the industry is to deliver on the government\u2019s 1.5 million new homes target, we need a much larger workforce. Alongside that, we\u2019re increasingly looking at modern methods of construction (MMC). This includes exploring different approaches to energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, but also addressing skills shortages in traditional trades, such as bricklaying, by adopting alternatives like panelling, modular construction, and timber frame. We have two timber frame factories, and from both a sustainability and efficiency perspective, this works extremely well for us.<\/p>\n What other initiatives is the company driving to shape the future of housebuilding?<\/p>\n