House building could be hit by lack of workers following Brexit

The government has been warned that its plans to tackle the housing shortage could be hit by attempts to tighten Brexit immigration controls with fewer skilled construction workers coming to the UK.

The cautionary words come from the British Property Association (BPF), which represents developers and investors in the sector.

BPF chief executive Melanie Leech said: “Talent is a critical issue to sort and, in our sector, it’s construction skills.

“There are a huge number of workers coming from within and outside the EU currently and, if we’re going to have a really ambitious house building programme and we’re going to build the business infrastructure we need for the 21st century, we have to make sure we can staff the construction industry.”

The Conservatives have pledged to build one million new homes by 2020 and further half a million by the end of 2022.

The Prime Minister has also vowed to cut net migration to fewer than 100,000.

Labour has also set out a similar programme of house building with one million new homes to be built over five years, including half a million council and housing association homes.

The party has, however, refused to be drawn on setting a target on immigration.

Both parties have said they broadly support those EU workers currently employed in the UK right to remain but the exact details have yet to emerge.

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