The Housing Minister has hailed the latest mortgage data published today (15 October 2019), which has revealed the number of first-time buyers getting a mortgage, and a foot on the property ladder, increasing to 35,010.

Representing the highest monthly total since August 2007, the figures show an unrelenting demand for home ownership from people who want to call a home their own.

The figures from UK Finance follow the Ministry of Housing’s own research revealing 87% of the public would prefer to buy, rather than rent, a home.

It also found 57% of people support the building of new homes in their own community, up from 28% in 2010 – demonstrating a majority of the public remains pragmatic about how the shortage of new homes is addressed.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Esther McVey MP said:

It’s welcome news that first-time buyers have reached a 12-year high.

This government is determined to open up the dream of home ownership – with more houses completed last year than in all but one of the last 31 years.

In August 2019 there were 35,010 first-time buyer mortgages completed. The previous high was in August 2007 when there were 35,070 new first-time buyer mortgages completed.

The government is supporting the delivery of new homes across all tenure types – whether that’s council, social, private, to rent or buy – to ensure everyone’s needs are met.

Call to run a project focusing on supporting businesses in priority sectors, addressing skills gaps that challenge the growth ambitions of small and micro-businesses in particular.

Call to run a project to enable SME’s to undertake strategic workforce planning, which aims to embed technical education in recruitment and training practices.

The panels have been installed as part of work being delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) in partnership with Skanska and AECOM.

A total of 1,625 photovoltaic roof panels have been erected on four new buildings on the site of the new £300-million tri-service facility.

The panels, which will produce 413,307kWh/year of electricity annually, will save the base almost £58,000 per year. This saving is equivalent to powering 133 domestic properties for a year.

Matthew Richardson, DIO’s Principal Project Manager, said:

Prior to the installation of the panels, the base did not have the capability for on-site electricity generation, so this is an exciting new addition.

The photovoltaic panels will not only deliver considerable savings to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), but also help preserve the planet’s resources, so it’s a win-win situation.

Paul Weale, Project Director for Skanska, added:

Skanska recently announced its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions on its projects by 2045, including its supply chain. It’s a core part of our whole approach to construction.

This initiative to install solar panels at Worthy Down, not only fulfils the DIO’s requirement, but also demonstrates how being environmentally conscious and cost conscious can be entirely aligned.

The completion of the new facilities will see personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force all training at the site. Having all 3 services training at 1 site allows for the sharing of resources, technology and learning.

The work at Worthy Down is one part of a two-part scheme which forms Project Wellesley. The second part of the project is the development of a new community called Mindenhurst at the former Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, Surrey. The project supports the MOD’s continuing rationalisation of its estate.

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