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Children Won't Be Able To Buy A House - The Mirror October 2005

Two thirds of today's 10-year olds will never be able to buy their own homes.

Britain's housing shortage means that most of the next generation will be priced out of the property market, a Government report claimed yesterday.

It said that by 2026 only a third of couples in their 30s will be able to get on the housing ladder.

Currently around half of all couples are able to buy a home when they get married or have children. In the 1980s, it was two-thirds.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper said the new figures show the urgent need to build more new houses.

She said " For the sake of today's ten-year olds, we need to start planning new homes for the future right now. It isn't fair if peoples chances of owning their own home in the future depends on whether their parents or grandparents were homeowners."

Ministers want to build thousands more homes but face resistance from environmental groups.

Ms Cooper said "We can build more new homes and safeguard the environment at the same time. People need to recognise it is unsustainable to carry on as we are. We need to protect the environment for the next generation. We also need to make sure they have homes to live in."