North Somerset may struggle to reach its housing target due to a lack of construction workers.
The government wants North Somerset to build lots of homes. They set a high target: 23,895 by 2040. The council seeks space near Nailsea and Backwell. They might use green belt land near Long Ashton.
Finding land is only one part. They need enough construction workers too. Building 1,593 homes a year is the goal. But they only built about 900 in 2018. That year was a really busy one.
Mark Canniford spoke about the problem. Brexit made it harder to find staff. Big projects nearby add pressure. The gigafactory and Hinkley Point C create demand.
Canniford said it’s a tough challenge. The government wants 1.5 million homes built. This needs to happen in the UK in five years. Builders say they lack enough workers.
A consultation is happening now. It concerns where to put new homes. It ends on March 21. People can share their thoughts about plans. They can attend drop-in events to learn more.
These events are in several locations. Check them out. One is on February 26 in Long Ashton, with another on March 5 in Weston-super-Mare. Nailsea has one on March 7 while Backwell’s is March 10. All run from 3 to 6 pm.