Bricks Without Tricks: Why £600m Won’t Build 1.5 Million Homes a Year

Bricks Without Tricks: Why £600m Won’t Build 1.5 Million Homes in 5 Years

By Ian Hodgkinson – Business and Building Consultant & current DIY SOS Project Manager

The Chancellor’s upcoming Spring Statement is expected to include a headline pledge: £600 million to train 60,000 new construction workers.

It’s being presented as part of the government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years — averaging around 300,000 homes per year. But let’s be honest — while it’s a step in the right direction, the maths still doesn’t stack up.

The UK is currently delivering between 140,000 and 180,000 homes a year, depending on region and market conditions. That means to meet this new target, we’ll need to nearly double housing output and fast. But without the skilled workforce to deliver it, that’s more fantasy than forecast.

What’s in the Plan?

The Chancellor’s proposed £600m package includes:

   •   £100m for 10 new Technical Excellence Colleges

   •   £165m for expanded construction courses

   •   £100m for Skills Bootcamps

   •   £40m to launch Foundation Apprenticeships (from August 2025)

   •   £2,000 per employer for each new foundation apprentice taken on

   •   40,000 annual industry placements to get learners site-ready

   •   A new Construction Skills Mission Board to oversee the strategy

It’s encouraging — and long overdue. But even if all 60,000 trainees go straight into housebuilding (which they won’t), it still wouldn’t be enough to meet the scale of labour demand needed to deliver 300,000 homes per year consistently.

A Bigger Problem: Leaky Workforce Pipeline

Training is only half the battle. The industry has a serious retention problem. Many young workers never make it past year one. Some don’t finish their training, and too many leave the trade early due to poor conditions, lack of mentorship, or limited opportunities.

What we need is:

   •   A national workforce strategy tied directly to housing delivery

   •   Investment in retention, site support, and mental health

   •   Real support for Modern Methods of Construction to boost productivity

   •   Cultural change to make construction a credible, attractive long-term career

We’re not just short on trainees — we’re short on experienced hands across all trades, from bricklayers to electricians, site managers to plasterers. That gap can’t be closed with bootcamps alone.

Conclusion: It’s a Foundation, Not a Fix

This funding is welcome, and it’s good to see construction finally getting the attention it deserves. But we need to be realistic: £600m spread across five years and 60,000 workers won’t build 1.5 million homes. Not unless it’s part of a wider, well-coordinated plan.

So yes, this is a solid first brick. But we’re still a long way off building the whole structure.

No tricks. Just truth.

If we’re going to build Britain, we need the boots — not just the budget.

⸻

Ian Hodgkinson

Business and Building Consultant

DIY SOS Project Manager