World Apr 26, 2026 · 1 min read

‘Sludge in the system’: myriad problems stymie Labour’s 1.5m new homes pledge

Soaring cost of building materials, lack of affordability and planning bottlenecks are some of the obstacles thwarting housing targetAt South and City College in Birmingham, dozens of young people clad in hi-vis vests and hard hats are building mini-walls and plastering half-formed rooms.Some weave...

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The Guardian
by Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent and Krystina Shveda
‘Sludge in the system’: myriad problems stymie Labour’s 1.5m new homes pledge

Soaring cost of building materials, lack of affordability and planning bottlenecks are some of the obstacles thwarting housing target

At South and City College in Birmingham, dozens of young people clad in hi-vis vests and hard hats are building mini-walls and plastering half-formed rooms.

Some weave in and out of stacks of bricks with wheelbarrows, while others use spirit levels to check the walls are straight and flat. In a few days time, these walls will be demolished and the plastering scraped away, for a new class to come in and try their hands.

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This article was originally published by The Guardian and written by Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent and Krystina Shveda.

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