2021 edition Are householders moving on or sprucing up? - Barbour ABI
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2021 edition
Contents
• Home
• About us
• Introduction
• Types of improvement
• Who is spending?
• Regional overview
• North East
• North West
• Yorkshire & Humber
2021 edition
• East Midlands
• West Midlands
• East of England
• London
• South East
Are householders
• South West
• Wales
• Scotland
• Drivers of home improvement
• Methodology
moving on or sprucing up?
A look at the trends in planning activity for households across the country
Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Brought to you by…
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www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
1
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
About us
Construction intelligence from the market leader with the largest UK-based research team, keeps you
better connected.
Barbour ABI AMA Research 2021 edition
Barbour ABI delivers market-leading intelligence, insight and analysis, AMA Research, a Barbour ABI group company is the leading specialist
enabling customers to identify new business opportunities, monitor provider of targeted market research and industry insight to the UK Contents
clients and competitor relationships and make smarter, more timely building and construction industry. Publishing over 150 off-the-shelf
decisions. market reports and industry forecast bulletins, the team specialise Brian Green • Home
Founded over 80 years ago, Barbour ABI has the largest UK-based in gathering deep intelligence in sectors where data doesn’t already Brian Green studied civil engineering followed by industrial- • About us
team of construction research experts, who make over 1 million exist. These high-quality reports are utilised by many leading UK related social sciences before entering journalism, mostly working • Introduction
calls every single year to key decision makers involved in projects to companies as an essential tool in developing their own marketing and at Construction News. He left in 1998 to broaden his experience • Types of improvement
unearth the details that give our customers the competitive edge. The strategic growth policies. as a consultant, researcher, and commentator. • Who is spending?
power and depth of Barbour ABI information is unrivalled as we speak AMA Research also offer bespoke research services that combine He has written or contributed to many reports for construction • Regional overview
to more key decision makers, make more connections and add more their boutique consultancy touch with the scale, depth and accuracy bodies such as CIOB, CIC, NHBC, and CPA and worked for other • North East
value to project information than any other company in the UK. of Barbour ABI data to provide the most in-depth and reliable organisations such as Arcadis, Arup, BRE, RLB, and Turner & • North West
Our information is trusted by the UK’s governing bodies and leading services in the construction industry. This broad range of services Townsend. He annually edits the HBF/NHBC Housing Market • Yorkshire & Humber
organisations. The Office for National Statistics has used our data including commissioned market research projects as well as Intelligence report and Barbour ABI’s Home Improvers report and • East Midlands
for over six years to supply the New Orders Estimates. We are also consumer and business surveys. writes monthly for RIBA Journal. • West Midlands
partner of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, responsible for He sits on the BEIS construction statistics committee and ONS • East of England
collecting, collating and publishing the future construction pipeline for construction statistics steering group. • London
HM government. • South East
• South West
Barbour Product Search • Wales
Barbour Product Search is a digital product directory, and provides • Scotland
construction product manufacturers with the opportunity to • Drivers of home improvement
promote their products through a content delivery service. As well • Methodology
as an established following of industry professionals, as part of the
Barbour ABI group companies, Barbour Product Search also has
access to an engaged database of decision makers at specification
and procurement stages including architects, clients, contractors
and installers. It’s a unique way to reach a relevant audience
Partner of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in providing the National
through insightful product news, case studies and newsletters.
Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline
Barbour Product Search also provides a CPD platform for product
manufacturers to share the latest commentary on how their products
Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
have solved real problems the industry faces today. All of this in turn
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
provides professionals within construction with a platform to learn Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Chosen provider of Construction
about construction products, current hot topics within construction New Orders estimates to the ONS
and develop their knowledge to make informed decisions.
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www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Find out more Barbour ABI Barbour Product Search AMA Research Informa
2
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
How was 2020 for home improvement?
If you had asked almost anyone connected with the home improvement market at the end of 2019 what they expected in 2020 their predictions would have
been wildly wrong. 2020 was a very strange and very unpredictable year.
A tale of the unexpected Then reports of a pandemic emerged. Lockdown was declared and
everyone forced to spend more time than they might like at home.
of applications for home improvement bounced back faster and
stronger than almost anyone would have expected. Applications in
2021 edition
If you had asked almost anyone connected with the home
improvement market at the end of 2019 what they expected in 2020 That changed everything. Many people, particularly younger adults the second half of 2020 were more than 20% higher than over the
and families living in flats or smaller houses, were put under immense same period in 2019. Contents
their predictions would have been wildly wrong. If they weren’t wrong,
either there is something very odd about how they predict the future, stress. They needed more room. The extraordinary weather that Chart 1.2 shows the effect graphically. Importantly for the • Home
or their forecasts were right for the wrong reasons. 2020 was a very coincided with the early days of lockdown also reconnected people construction sector, planning applications run ahead of activity on the • About us
strange and very unpredictable year. with their gardens. ground, so we can expect to see the swelling numbers of applications • Introduction
Home improvement activity is always erratic through the year, if only Experiences inevitably were varied. But there was one common feed through into raised activity on the ground as 2021 progresses. • Types of improvement
for seasonal reasons. However, looking through this volatility, most factor. The quality of home mattered more. As time went on, this The chart also illustrates the strong, and perhaps unsurprising, • Who is spending?
of the signs in 2019 were pointing to a weakening market if we take correlation between home improvement planning applications • Regional overview
Britain as a whole. This can be seen in the Barbour ABI data for home Applications in the second half of 2020 were more than and activity in the construction industry’s private housing repair, • North East
maintenance, and improvement sector.
improvement applications (Chart 1.1), which illustrates the erratic 20% higher than over the same period in 2019. • North West
nature. The 12-month moving average shows the trend and how the • Yorkshire & Humber
The North stars
number of applications were starting to fade from the spring of 2017. • East Midlands
seemed to have sparked a race for space among homeowners and a The overall effect across 2020 was that there was a rise in the primary
True, things may have looked relatively brighter for those in the north • West Midlands
rush to improve gardens up and down the country. measure of home improvement applications per 1,000 private homes
of England, Wales, and Scotland, but the big spenders in the south of • East of England
Builders’ merchants and DIY stores saw a huge jump in customer in Great Britain of about 3%. This as we see in Chart 1.3 where the
England, particularly in central London, appeared to be showing less • London
traffic as households rushed to lay patios, construct decking, and measure rises from 12.0 in 2019 to 12.4 in 2020. In Table 4.1, later,
appetite for home improvement and were definitely spending less. • South East
improve their fencing. And, after an initial fall, the submissions we see how this lifted the level to the average over the previous two
• South West
• Wales
• Scotland
35,000 105 • Drivers of home improvement
Index: private housing rmi 2018=100, applications 2017 = 100
• Methodology
30,000
100
25,000
95
20,000
90
15,000
85
10,000 Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Private housing RMI
5,000
80 Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Applications
Home improvers Trend
0
Dec 08 Dec 09 Dec 10 Dec 11 Dec 12 Dec 13 Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20
75
Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20
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Chart 1.1 Source: Barbour ABI Chart 1.2 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Monthly home improvement planning applications (with 12-month moving average) Private housing RMI construction output and home improvement planning applications (12-month moving average)
3
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
years, as activity checked a steady decline since the ratio peaked at the report, which looks at the top 10 area classifications ranked by
13.7 in 2016. change in the number of applications.
More interesting for many is the variation in the growth rates across Based on ONS area classifications, the areas denoted “Challenged
Britain in a year that was massively disrupted by the pandemic Terraced Workers” came top. These areas are account for a relatively
and lockdowns. While London still sees the highest level of home
improvement applications for each 1,000 private homes, activity in Yorkshire & Humber and the North West both saw a 2021 edition
the capital in 2020 continued a decline from the peak in 2016. In all double-digit growth in the number of planning applications
other English regions and in Scotland and Wales activity increased. submitted in 2020. Contents
The flip side to London was the large rise in activity in the north of
England. Yorkshire & Humber and the North West both saw a double- • Home
digit growth in the number of planning applications submitted in small part of the population, less than 3% of those in employment. • About us
2020. This more than checked the signs of decline seen across most They also see relatively low levels of home improvement activity. This • Introduction
of Britain in 2019. Part of this growth outside London will be down may flatter the scale of the rise, but it is a further indication of the • Types of improvement
to stronger house price growth. But the pandemic clearly prompted unexpected effects of the pandemic. • Who is spending?
many households to invest in their homes. The rise in rural activity is also revealed in the table, along with a strong • Regional overview
The pattern of growth between different households and areas were showing in the suburban areas of Britain. For most people this would • North East
mixed. In the North West, for instance which saw the biggest regional have been expected given the nature of the pandemic. What would also • North West
rise, towns with industrial heritage such as Oldham and St Helens have been expected given the dominance of London, was the slide in • Yorkshire & Humber
enjoyed big boosts along with more rural districts such as Ribble activity in more metropolitan and cosmopolitan areas of Britain. • East Midlands
Valley and Copeland. Chart 1.4 underlines the dramatic shift in the fortunes of home • West Midlands
improvement in London. The data shows annual average household • East of England
As we dig deeper into the data, growth can be seen in both rural
spending on “alterations and improvements to dwelling” over two • London
areas and in traditional industrial towns noted for their working-class
terraced housing. This patchwork is evident in Table 3.2, later in consecutive Family Spending surveys, to reduce the volatility in the • South East
• South West
• Wales
• Scotland
London South East • Drivers of home improvement
-3%
South East East of England • Methodology
1%
East of England South West
5%
South West England
3%
Yorks & Humber West Midlands
10%
East Midlands
7% Percentage changes East Midlands
West Midlands are between Scotland
4%
North West
11%
2019 & 2020 Wales
Wales North West
4%
North East
7%
London Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Scotland
2020
North East Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
4%
2019-2020
England average 2019 Yorks & Humber Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
3% 2017-2018
2018
GB average Great Britain
0 5 10
3%
15 20 25 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500
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Chart 1.3 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS, MHCLG, StatsWales, Scottish Government Chart 1.4 Source: ONS Family Spending survey www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Home improvement applications per 1,000 private homes by region Household annual spend (£) on home improvements by region
4
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
figures. The data is up to March in the year, so mainly pre-dates places that provide more space for storage or that might double as a
the pandemic. home office, workspace, or home gym, it makes sense. Also, many of
It shows that in the financial years ending March 2019 and 2020, the
Five years ago the average London household spent twice
average level of household spending among Londoners fell by half
compared with the average across the previous two years. Looking at
older data shows how five years ago the average London household
the amount on home improvement than the national average.
Now they appear to be spending half the national average. 2021 edition
spent twice the amount on home improvement than the national
average. Now they appear to be spending half the national average. Contents
the applications will have been to convert garages to bring them into
Outside the norm the scope of living space. • Home
A popular narrative argues that the pandemic and lockdown have The upshot is that lockdown appears to have raised the appreciation • About us
affected how people live and invigorated the desire for better homes. among households not just for more space in the home, but for more • Introduction
This view has hardened as the prospect has grown that more people useful and enjoyable outside space within the boundaries of the home. • Types of improvement
will in future work from home. As Chart 1.5 shows, applications for both garages and garden works • Who is spending?
Certainly, there was a solid rise in applications for extensions, which had been on a steady decline through 2019. But the downward trend • Regional overview
form the backbone of home improvement applications. This can be was reverse and by the end of 2020 there was a steep upward trend. • North East
seen in Tables 2.1 and 2.2 later. But one quirk, which might have been It is worth noting that applications for solar panels, which tend to be • North West
expected if we thought about it, was the huge jump in applications for erratic, also surged in the latter months of 2020. This too fits with a • Yorkshire & Humber
garden buildings and works. And along with this came applications for popular narrative that suggests the pandemic has made people more • East Midlands
work on garages. conscious of environmental issues, and perhaps more inclined to be • West Midlands
The rise in applications concerning garages may initially flummox self-sufficient. These might be factors in the surge in applications to • East of England
people who might think it odd given that car sales fell, and people install solar panels, which offers not just environmental benefits but • London
have been driving less. But if we include garages within the scope of the ability to capture off-grid energy. • South East
• South West
• Wales
Lockdown appears to • Scotland
50
Garden buildings & works
have raised the appreciation • Drivers of home improvement
Garage among households not just • Methodology
40
Solar panels
for more space in the home,
Change (%) on 12-month ave level of applications
30 but for more useful and
20
enjoyable outside space
within the boundaries of
10
the home.
0
Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
-10
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
-20
-30
Dec 16 Jun 17 Dec 17 Jun 18 Dec 18 Jun 19 Dec 19 Jun 20 Dec 20
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Chart 1.5 Source: Barbour ABI www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Outside-the-house home improvement
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The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
Ups and downs among the boroughs Rank District Region 2017 2018 2019 2020 Growth (%)*
However big the shift was in appetite for home improvement, it only
★ Three Rivers East of England 38.5 32.9 31.6 34.9 8
mildly dented the hierarchy of where applications are most likely to
be found. 2 St Albans East of England 41.9 37.2 35.8 34.3 -6
The dominant forces of house prices and house price rises, along
with popular and aspirational places to live, have kept London’s outer
3
4
Brentwood
Elmbridge
East of England
South East
36.1
38.1
35.2
34.7
29.4
31.0
32.9
30.2
2
-8
2021 edition
suburbs at the top of the table based on how many applications they
5 Harrow London 43.1 40.9 38.4 29.8 -25
see relative to the private housing stock. Contents
Three Rivers and St Albans sit proudly at the top of the Top 25 local 6 Hertsmere East of England 33.4 33.6 26.2 29.3 -2
• Home
authorities. They brush up against Hertsmere and Harrow, to the 7 Hillingdon London 33.2 30.5 27.0 29.2 2
• About us
north west of London, which sit within the top six. And looking around
8 Redbridge London 41.4 38.5 33.5 29.0 -20 • Introduction
the rest of those that occupy the top 25 spots most are within easy
commuting distance of central London. 9 Hounslow London 32.0 27.8 27.5 28.7 4 • Types of improvement
• Who is spending?
What we notice Table 1.1, however, is that those in London, such 10 Mole Valley South East 31.1 28.2 26.2 28.3 4
• Regional overview
as Harrow, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Barnet, and Brent, 11 Epping Forest East of England 30.7 30.1 26.8 28.3 -1 • North East
have seen the bigger falls. All saw double-digit drops in the ratio of
12 Welwyn Hatfield East of England 31.5 30.9 25.7 27.9 -1 • North West
applications per 1,000 private homes in 2020 compared with the
• Yorkshire & Humber
previous two years. 13 Richmond upon Thames London 35.6 32.7 28.9 27.8 -10
• East Midlands
When we look at the Table 1.2, showing the bottom 25 districts for 14 Tandridge South East 31.2 26.6 24.9 27.5 7 • West Midlands
home improvement, the picture is very different. Those seeing the
15 Windsor and Maidenhead South East 30.2 29.2 26.9 27.5 -2 • East of England
biggest lift in applications, above 15%, were North East Lincolnshire,
• London
Hyndburn, West Dunbartonshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Inverclyde. All 16 Waverley South East 31.0 27.6 28.4 27.3 -3
• South East
have large rural areas. 17 Uttlesford East of England 32.8 28.5 25.8 27.1 0 • South West
This appears to be a story of urban down and rural up. But as we 18 Guildford South East 30.7 30.3 26.8 26.3 -8 • Wales
see later in Chart 4.2, it is not that straightforward. Boroughs in the • Scotland
major conurbations outside London – Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds 19 Hart South East 30.4 26.5 25.5 26.0 0
• Drivers of home improvement
and Bradford, Newcastle – have seen expansion. While also planning 20 Sevenoaks South East 29.5 26.6 24.4 25.8 1 • Methodology
applications in smaller villages in sparse areas also seem to get a
21 Barnet London 37.4 33.4 27.1 25.6 -15
boost in 2020.
22 Kingston upon Thames London 32.2 30.3 24.0 25.0 -8
Less movement more improvement 23 Epsom and Ewell South East 27.4 26.0 24.7 24.8 -2
Much has been made over recent years of whether the balance of
24 Buckinghamshire South East 28.3 26.6 24.0 24.7 -2
moving versus improving has changed. The economics certainly tend
to favour improving as house prices rise faster than general inflation, 25 Brent London 35.5 31.0 28.3 24.2 -18
with the cost of trading up widening faster than the cost of converting
a loft or adding an extension. That’s without factoring any changes in Table 1.1 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
transaction costs. Top 25 districts for home improvement Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Number of home improvement applications for every 1,000 private homes Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Certainly, since the global financial crisis residential transactions
*latest year versus average over previous two years
have been a step change between 2007 and 2008, almost halving
before bouncing back slightly to settle at a level around 25% to 30%
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the relationship between home sales and private housing RMI www.barbour-abi.com
construction activity, which held far more stable. @BarbourABI
6
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
Rank District Region 2017 2018 2019 2020 Growth (%)* In many ways the cost of buying a home with an extra bedroom is no
bad rough guide to whether people are likely to move or improve. As
★ Ceredigion Wales 6.2 5.5 5.4 5.6 2
Table 4.4, later, clearly shows in the data provided by Zoopla that
2 Hartlepool North East 7.0 5.9 5.5 5.5 -3 the cost of trading up from a three to a four-bed home can be very
3
4
Lincoln
Hyndburn
East Midlands
North West
5.6
5.2
5.6
4.5
6.0
4.5
5.5
5.4
-5
20
substantial and well above the cost of having an extension built.
The pandemic changed the dynamic. Sales fell heavily when lockdown 2021 edition
was imposed. And, while the stamp duty holiday provided a big boost
5 Bolsover East Midlands 5.4 5.6 5.5 5.4 -2 in the final quarter, the numbers for the 12-months to September 2020 Contents
6 Na h-Eileanan Siar Scotland 4.2 4.9 5.2 5.4 7 – which we use for comparison (see methodology) – were significantly
down on the same period a year earlier. The net effect of a year of the • Home
7 Wrexham Wales 5.2 5.7 5.5 5.4 -4
pandemic and lockdowns was to see the balance between move and • About us
8 North East Lincolnshire Yorkshire & Humber 4.8 4.0 4.4 5.2 22 improve shift heavily towards improve. That is, if we take submission • Introduction
9 Burnley North West 5.6 5.5 4.9 5.0 -5 of a planning applications as a measure for improvements. • Types of improvement
The scale of the shift towards more applications to improve for every • Who is spending?
10 Portsmouth South East 6.6 7.0 6.7 5.0 -27
100 home sales is clear from the data presented in Table 4.3, which • Regional overview
11 North Lanarkshire Scotland 4.7 4.5 4.3 4.9 10 shows that in 2020 the number of improvement planning applications • North East
12 Falkirk Scotland 5.5 4.5 5.0 4.8 1 to home moves was 25% higher than the average over the past five • North West
years. However, the likelihood is that the balance will shift back as the • Yorkshire & Humber
13 Kingston upon Hull Yorkshire & Humber 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.8 10
volatility in the figures begins to settle. Where the relationship might • East Midlands
14 Renfrewshire Scotland 4.9 4.7 4.4 4.6 1 settle however is unclear. • West Midlands
15 Tower Hamlets London 7.7 5.8 5.0 4.5 -18 • East of England
The net effect of a year of the pandemic and lockdowns • London
16 West Dunbartonshire Scotland 4.5 3.7 3.7 4.5 19
was to see the balance between move and improve shift • South East
17 East Ayrshire Scotland 5.1 4.5 4.8 4.4 -5 • South West
heavily towards improve.
18 Stoke-on-Trent West Midlands 4.1 4.6 4.6 4.2 -9 • Wales
• Scotland
19 North Ayrshire Scotland 4.3 4.9 4.4 4.2 -11
• Drivers of home improvement
20 Dundee City Scotland 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.9 1 • Methodology
21 Blaenau Gwent Wales 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.8 17
22 Inverclyde Scotland 3.8 3.2 3.3 3.7 15
23 Aberdeen City Scotland 4.2 4.7 4.2 3.4 -23
24 Blackpool North West 2.9 3.2 2.5 3.1 9
25 Glasgow City Scotland 3.0 2.7 2.6 2.8 4
Table 1.2 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Bottom 25 districts for home improvement Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Number of home improvement applications for every 1,000 private homes Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
*latest year versus average over previous two years
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7
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
From plans to action there are clear signs of a relationship. Shift the line forward a year, as
If we look at 10 years of data, the strongest six-month period for in Chart 1.7, and the connection seems very strong indeed.
applications as collected by Barbour ABI tends to be from February The relationship is unlikely to be perfect because an application is
to July. The strongest six-month period for private housing repair, for a project, not an amount of work. The link weakens when there
maintenance, and improvement output as measured by ONS runs
from June to November.
are changes in the average value. Bearing that in mind, the stronger
showing of construction work in the period before 2015 makes sense. 2021 edition
This seems to suggest a lag of about four months in the peaks. This This period was dominated by London and saw the surge in “iceberg
can be seen in Chart 1.6. Clearly things shifted weirdly with the homes” where numerous huge and expensive basements were being Contents
pandemic. But the notion that there is a four-month lag between built in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster. You would expect
the aggregate value of construction work to rise above the aggregate • Home
number of applications. • About us
Changes in applications appear, in more normal
Clearly, the applications data well before the pandemic was pointing • Introduction
circumstances, to translate into changes in private housing • Types of improvement
towards weaker home improvement activity and the ONS data
RMI about a year later. suggests that private housing RMI construction was weak at the start • Who is spending?
of 2020. What happened after that was chaotic and broke any normal • Regional overview
links that might tie the level of applications to the level of construction • North East
putting in an application and getting work done seems reasonable activity in the private housing RMI sector. • North West
given it takes on average about a couple of months to gain approval. There is however enough here to suggest that the applications provide • Yorkshire & Humber
However, the relationship is obviously not going to be that simple, a good indicator of future private housing RMI construction activity. • East Midlands
as the time taken for work to be done, from planning approval to Changes in applications appear, in more normal circumstances, to • West Midlands
completion, will vary widely. translate into changes in private housing RMI about a year later. So, • East of England
If we look at the path of private housing RMI and that of planning with plans being submitted in larger numbers, we might reasonably • London
applications on a 12-month moving basis, as we can in Chart 1.1, • South East
• South West
• Wales
• Scotland
120 110 • Drivers of home improvement
Index: private housing rmi 2018=100, applications 2017 = 100
• Methodology
110
100
100
90
90
80
80
70 Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
70
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
60 Applications (Barbour ABI) Private housing RMI Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Private housing RMI (ONS) Applications (12-months advanced)
50
Dec 10 Dec 11 Dec 12 Dec 13 Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20
60
Dec 11 Dec 12 Dec 13 Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21
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Chart 1.6 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS Chart 1.7 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Applications four months ahead of private housing RMI (both smoothed on six-month average and indexed to 2018=100) Private housing RMI construction output and home improvement applications (12-month moving averages)
8
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
expect to see a rise in action on the ground about a year later. That is, The Bank of England estimated that from March to November 2020 But checking this optimism is the reality that we have yet to fully feel
once things have settled down. additional deposits over those nine months suggests that households the effects of the damage inflicted on the economy as we have dealt
had accumulate £125 billion of extra savings, having not been able with the pandemic. Policies have sensibly been put in place to provide
Looking ahead to spend freely on things like holidays and entertainment over the some shelter from the storm. But many households that have already
What follows from a very strange year like 2020? What permanent
change has the pandemic caused? What does normal look like when
pandemic. That figure is thought to have risen above £160 billion.
Meanwhile, spending on cars has plunged, with new registrations
suffered badly, and many more will face tough times as the nation
emerges into what will become a new normal. 2021 edition
we return to whatever it is? down 7% in 2019, 11% in 2020, and for the first two months of 2021 It seems inevitable that we will not be returning to business as usual.
These are just three of the multitude of questions that will have been down by more than a third on the same period a year ago. This points Fortunately for those involved in home improvement activities, Contents
spinning around virtual boardroom tables for months as firms look to to large amounts of money not being spent on motor vehicles, which the few flickering signals we can see through the fog and haze as
“get back to normal”. theoretically frees it up for something else. we look ahead hint that there is every reason to be more positive • Home
Add this together and there is a case to suggest that households, than negative. • About us
All the signs are that many if not most of those currently working from
home will return to offices. But in future there will be more flexibility, many at least, have large amounts that they could, should they wish, • Introduction
spend on doing up their homes. And if they will be working from • Types of improvement
The home improvement applications data suggest that in home, that might look like a good investment. • Who is spending?
the near term at least there will be a rising amount of work Certainly, the home improvement applications data suggest that in • Regional overview
flowing through. the near term at least there will be a rising amount of work flowing • North East
through. How much of a rise we might see in home improvement • North West
spending, however, will depend on the ambitions of the homeowners • Yorkshire & Humber
with much more working from home. That, at least, seems to be the and the size of their projects. • East Midlands
consensus view and has become almost an accepted fact by most • West Midlands
To this positive factor we might add the focus on home improvements
people. This fundamentally changes the value of a home in the minds • East of England
emerging from the green agenda. Despite the wretched failures of
of households. • London
government policies over the years, there is much to suggest this will
• South East
boost home improvement.
• South West
• Wales
The Bank of England • Scotland
estimated that from • Drivers of home improvement
March to November 2020 • Methodology
additional deposits over
those nine months suggests
that households had
accumulate £125 billion of
extra savings, having not
been able to spend freely
on things like holidays and Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
entertainment over the Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
pandemic. Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
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9
The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
What type of work is on the up, what’s down?
Differences in house prices, population density, available outside space all greatly influence what types of home
improvements are undertaken and where.
Among the bigger and least expected changes seen in the home
improvement planning figures between 2019 and 2020 must be the
of converting a garage to expand the home comes strongly into play.
This is likely to be a popular option for people with garages looking to
Differences in house prices, population density, available outside
space all greatly influence what types of home improvements are
2021 edition
surge in applications for garages (see Table 2.1). better use space. undertaken and where. And the driving forces shift over time. So, as
With car sales falling and people driving less during the pandemic it Perhaps less surprising in the data was the rise in applications we examine the trends either geographically or by household type, Contents
would seem reasonable that the desire for garages might fall. Firstly, for extensions, which represent the mother lode within home multiple factors need to be considered. This year we must factor in
some of the plans will be for changes to existing garages, conversions. improvement planning applications. Overall, there was a rise of just the massive impact of the pandemic and how it has fundamentally • Home
over 4% in applications for extensions. Meanwhile, applications for changed the relationship between households and their home. • About us
This year we must factor in the massive impact of the loft works slipped back. This is likely to reflect the changing balance Changing patterns in the types of improvements clearly provide • Introduction
in activity away from London. guides to trends in the home improver market. But they can also • Types of improvement
pandemic and how it has fundamentally changed the
provide insight into changing patterns of demand within local housing • Who is spending?
relationship between households and their home. Digging deeper, the data suggests that proportionately there was
markets. The types of applications will reflect changing appetites for • Regional overview
a dip in the number of applications that include multiple types of
amenities, whether that is a desire for more or better space inside the • North East
home improvements. This hints at homeowners being perhaps
But also, if we disassociate garages from cars and see them as places home, or improvements to the outside space with an outbuilding or • North West
less ambitious than in the past and more focused on one form of
to store things to free space in the house, or as a place to work, then a improvement. This may suggest that there was an even bigger rise in other garden works. • Yorkshire & Humber
rise in applications for garages makes sense. home improvement activity that does not require planning. Certainly, The steep rise and then decline in basement development in London • East Midlands
Garages might be regarded alongside other garden buildings and that would fit with the sales figures coming from builders’ merchants for instance tells us a lot about the flood of money and rampant house • West Midlands
works, which are categorised separately in the table. Also, the issue and DIY suppliers. price rises that buoyed the London housing scene from 2012 to 2016. • East of England
• London
• South East
Garden buildings Garden buildings
Region Extension Loft works Conservatory Garage & works Region Extension Loft works Conservatory Garage & works • South West
• Wales
North East 11.6% 0.7% -14.9% 8.8% -10.6% North East 81.7% 8.5% 2.2% 9.8% 3.5%
• Scotland
North West 13.1% 5.2% -10.7% 17.3% 15.4% North West 85.9% 9.4% 1.4% 7.9% 3.0% • Drivers of home improvement
Yorkshire & Humber 10.3% 3.8% -24.3% 23.8% 13.7% Yorkshire & Humber 80.2% 13.0% 1.4% 11.6% 3.4% • Methodology
East Midlands 5.9% -4.1% -25.4% 35.3% 4.8% East Midlands 79.8% 7.5% 1.6% 14.2% 4.0%
West Midlands 3.3% 7.5% -5.1% 20.9% 5.3% West Midlands 82.5% 9.1% 1.9% 10.1% 3.5%
East of England 3.9% 5.0% -25.3% 39.0% 6.7% East of England 77.5% 15.7% 1.4% 10.4% 3.4%
London 1.5% -11.1% -27.9% 13.4% 4.5% London 83.5% 19.2% 0.9% 1.8% 2.4%
South East 1.0% 2.7% -23.2% 21.8% 8.3% South East 75.6% 16.7% 1.9% 10.8% 3.9%
South West 3.4% -5.4% -16.1% 20.0% 10.5% South West 73.4% 11.1% 2.9% 14.5% 5.0% Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Wales 5.0% -19.8% -17.0% 18.9% 2.7% Wales 77.3% 7.5% 2.4% 15.1% 4.3%
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Scotland 2.1% -8.7% -32.6% 50.0% 8.3% Scotland 73.6% 8.8% 1.4% 14.6% 3.5%
0151 353 3500
Great Britain 4.3% -2.3% -20.9% 25.3% 7.5% Great Britain 81.7% 8.5% 2.2% 9.8% 3.5% info@barbour-abi.com
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Table 2.1 Source: Barbour ABI Table 2.2 Source: Barbour ABI @BarbourABI
Annual change in applications including the below types of home improvement Share of applications including the below types of home improvement
10The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
And we can see echoing in the decline in applications for basements Economically basements tend to work only in locations where land The share of extensions within applications varies over time. It has for
subsequently the slowdown in house prices as the pressure within the prices are high. This means that the high cost of works can be instance grown markedly in London. Today the share stands at about
central London housing market seeped away from 2016 onward and translated into a sufficiently large increase in the house price. It also 84%. In 2016 it was 71% when central London home improvement
house prices stalled. helps if house prices in the area are rising. activity was rampant with loft conversions and basements. The rise
While extensions are clearly the most common form of home
improvement across all parts of Britain, Table 2.2 shows that
Rocketing house prices in London, a flood of wealth and an appetite
for luxury living generated a boom in basement building. In 2013 three
in the share of extensions in the London pool of home improvement
applications in recent years is consistent with activity drifting from
central London to outer London boroughs. Here, less expensive
2021 edition
there is significant variation in the popularity of the types of home boroughs, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith
improvement between regions. For instance, loft conversions tend to & Fulham accounted for half of all UK planning applications for housing and larger gardens mean extensions are likely to be a more
popular form of home improvement.
Contents
be more popular in the higher priced and more urban areas such as basements. In 2020 that figure had fallen to 22%.
London and southern England. Conservatories and garden buildings Chart 2.1 illustrates just how rapidly the basement boom grew in the Measured by planning applications for every 1,000 private homes, • Home
are more popular in the South West and Wales. mid-2010s and how it has faded as London has lost some of its shine. London remains top of the table, with an average of 16.5 versus the • About us
These shares do change over time. As mentioned, an interesting 9.9 national average. Scotland sits at the bottom of the list. • Introduction
● Top local authorities for basements: Kensington & Chelsea,
feature of the figures for 2020 has been the rise in applications for In 2020, the top boroughs for extensions all saw more than 25 in • Types of improvement
Hammersmith & Fulham, and Westminster (all in London)
garages. Beyond this increase, which is substantial across Britain, every 1,000 private homes, one in 40, being the subject of a home • Who is spending?
there has been a noticeable fall in applications for conservatories. Extensions and conservatories improvement application involving an extension. • Regional overview
This should be expected. Most conservatory providers will aim ● Top local authorities for extensions: Three Rivers, St Albans, and • North East
There was a solid increase of 4% in applications for extensions
to provide products to fit within the expanding scope of what is Brentwood (all East of England). • North West
across Britain, driven by double-digit rises in the northern regions of
permitted without planning permission. • Yorkshire & Humber
England. Rising house prices in the north over recent years will have The decline in applications for conservatories continues. This is likely to
• East Midlands
made extensions increasingly attractive financially compared with be down to greater scope provided by permitted development steadily
Basements • West Midlands
moving home. influencing the market. Conservatories tend to feature more heavily
Where we find basements typifies how location plays a strong role • East of England
About eight in ten home improvement applications include extensions, within the array of applications in the South West and North East of
in where different types of home improvement are likely to be most • London
as Table 2.2 shows. This is broadly even across Britain. England and in Wales. This fits with their attractiveness to retirees and
common. The link between basements and London was cemented in • South East
those living in scenic locations. But given that many conservatories
the 2010s. • South West
• Wales
• Scotland
4,000
K&C, Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham • Drivers of home improvement
Rest of London • Methodology
Outside London
3,000
2,000
Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
1,000
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
0151 353 3500
info@barbour-abi.com
Chart 2.1 Source: Barbour ABI www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
The basement boom
11The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
can be constructed without planning, it may not be a surprise that the ● Top local authorities for loft conversions: Three Rivers and St Albans households not just for more space in the home, but for more useful
boroughs where conservatories are most likely to appear in planning (East of England), and Elmbridge (South East). and enjoyable outside space within the boundaries of the home.
applications are in some of the wealthier parts of Britain. Table 2.1 shows how widespread this trend was. Except for the North
● Top local authorities for conservatories: Kensington & Chelsea
Garages, outbuildings, and garden works East, every region saw a sizeable jump in planning applications being
(London), Test Valley, and Winchester (both in the South East). What is clear from the sales of builders’ merchants is that materials
for the garden flew off the shelves after the first taste of lockdown.
submitted for outside-the-house home improvements.
It is interesting to note that most of those local authorities where
2021 edition
Loft conversions Fencing, decking, paving, and other related materials were seized
applications for garden buildings and works are high correspond to
upon as households looked to improve their outdoor space, as is clear
Loft conversions tend to be a popular way of gaining living space
in Chart 2.2. Having fallen back less during the initial lockdown, sales
those where applications for garages are also high. Contents
in areas where garden space is at a premium. So, we might expect
of landscaping materials and timber in the third and fourth quarter ● Top local authorities for garden buildings and work: Sevenoaks (South
terraced housing in towns and cities to be a typical hot spot. • Home
of 2020 were well above normal. This lifted overall merchant sales in East), South Northamptonshire (East Midlands), and Hambleton
• About us
Not all loft conversions will need planning approval and across (Yorkshire and The Humber).
those quarters above the level of the year earlier, despite lower sales • Introduction
Britain, despite a rise in interest in home improvement, there were
in other products such as decorating. ● Top local authorities for garages: East Cambridgeshire (East of • Types of improvement
about 2% fewer applications in 2020 compared with 2019. However,
Much of the work will have been DIY and much will not have required England), South Northamptonshire (East Midlands), and Hambleton
there was a rise in applications for roof works, which may include • Who is spending?
planning. But the planning data clearly shows a sudden and sharp (Yorkshire and The Humber).
related changes such as putting in roof windows or dormers to • Regional overview
enhance an existing loft space. upward trend in more ambitious works. As we saw in Chart 1.5 earlier, If we extend the list of top boroughs for garden buildings and garages, • North East
applications for both garages and garden works had been declining we find similar profiles among the wider pool of local authorities. The • North West
The overall fall in loft conversions was largely down to London,
through 2019. By the end of 2020 they were racing. wider list includes Stratford-on-Avon, Chichester, South Oxfordshire, • Yorkshire & Humber
Wales, and Scotland. There was an increase in the East and South
This fits a widely shared narrative that people were keen to improve and Cotswold all evoking a sense of wealth and sturdy large homes • East Midlands
East regions of England and in the West Midlands and the three
their homes in ways that made better use of space, certainly if we combined with expansive gardens in scenic settings. • West Midlands
northern regions.
assume that garages were about having more space to store things, • East of England
Loft works tend to be a more expensive way to gain space than an
possibly to double as a home office or workspace, or possibly subject • London
extension and tend to be more heavily weighted to southern England,
to a conversion. Lockdown seemed to raise the appreciation among • South East
although Yorkshire & Humber puts in a strong showing.
• South West
• Wales
• Scotland
Landscaping • Drivers of home improvement
Timber & joinery • Methodology
Heavy building materials
Ironmongery
Workwear & safetywear
Kitchens & bathrooms
Tools
Decorating 2020 Q2
2020 Q3
Plumbing, heat & Electrical 2020 Q4 Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Renewables & water saving
Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Total sales (ex VAT value)
-60 -40 -20
%
0 20 40 0151 353 3500
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Chart 2.2 Source: Builders Merchant Building Index www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Quarterly sales by builders merchants compared with same quarter a year ago
12The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
Who is spending more, who is spending less?
Over the past 15 possibly 20 years the baby boom generation has been the most influential group defining where the hot spots for home improvement.
The rule of thumb was to look at homeowners in their 50s and 60s who may be contemplating retirement or life without kids at home.
A quirk of fate cast baby boomers, more than any other generation, as
a major force within the housing market. As it has aged its effects have
Understanding this generation has been critical to fully understanding
many trends in the housing market and, indeed, in home
As we see in Chart 3.2 households with two retired people spend almost
double the amount spent a decade ago on home improvement. But the
2021 edition
heavily influenced not just home buying, as it did in the 1980s, but improvement. It remains important as we seek to understand what big spending are households in ages from around 30 up to retirement
increasingly home improvement, as it invested in what was for many a comes next (See: Drivers of home improvement Age profile). age, with families that have children among the biggest spenders. Contents
fast-growing asset. Baby boomers, as a generation, were more likely It is worth noting that household classifications can be hard to
to have owned a home than any other. Where is the sweet spot in age? interpret. Increasingly young adults are moving back into the • Home
Today baby boomers are aged between 57 and 75. So it is • About us
The boomer generation was not just large in number but grew family home – this was not the experience of most in their parents’
into adulthood in an age that fiercely promoted homeownership, unsurprising that the relative scale of spending among households in generation. As the Resolution Foundation noted in 2018, “29% of • Introduction
increasingly accepted the notion of a housing ladder, and presented the 65-to-74 age bracket is high compared with any period over the millennials still share a home either with their parents or others to • Types of improvement
an ever more desirable home to live in as a core aspiration. The baby past 15 years, as we see in Chart 3.1. whom they are not partnered at the age of 30, compared to just 16 • Who is spending?
boomers fortunately benefited hugely from relaxation in lending and It will not be until the 2030 before all the baby boomers pass into • Regional overview
rampant house price inflation. In the process they accumulated huge pension age, but their effect is steadily waning. That said, their ability • North East
Today baby boomers are aged between 57 and 75.
housing wealth. This can be seen in the national property wealth tables to migrate around the country with large amounts of housing wealth • North West
as a bulge moving up the age brackets of this generation matured. from selling high-value homes in London and the South East remains a • Yorkshire & Humber
It was also the generation that feasted heavily on TV programmes big driver of home improvement in some parts of Britain, notably the per cent of baby boomers at the same age”. A separate Resolution • East Midlands
from Changing Rooms to Property Ladder and Grand Designs more picturesque. Foundation report in 2017 also noted that “families often house their • West Midlands
reinforcing a desire for home improvement, a regard for the value adult children – but increasingly not their parents”. So “three or more • East of England
However, currently the mother lode of home improvement on the age
home improvements can add, and an aspiration for a dream home adults no children” has taken on a very different meaning over time. • London
scale has shifted to those in their 30s and 40s, closely followed by
tailored to the homeowner. The change has considerable implications for the propensity to spend • South East
those in their 50s or running up to retirement.
on home improvement. • South West
• Wales
• Scotland
2019-2020
Three or more • Drivers of home improvement
75 or over 2017-2018
adults & children
2009-2010 • Methodology
2004-2005 Three or more
adults no children
65 to 74
Two adults & children
Age groups
One adult & children
50 to 64
Two people (not-retired)
30 to 49
One person (not-retired)
Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Retired two people Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Under 30 Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
2019-2020
Retired one person
0 25 50 75
Percentage (%) of overall average household spend
100 125 150
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000
2009-2010
2,500
0151 353 3500
info@barbour-abi.com
Chart 3.1 Source: ONS Family Spending survey Chart 3.2 Source: ONS Family Spending survey www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Pattern of spend on home improvements by age Average annual spend (£) by household type over years 2019-2020 and 2009-2010
13The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
How big an indicator is the community? fact that many will not be employed may flatter the figures given our
Using the 2011 Area Classification for Output Areas we can gain insight metric of applications per 1,000 employed. But the housing stock is
into the characteristics of communities that have a much higher or weighted towards detached homes, which do offer scope for multiple
lower propensity to put in a planning application for home improvement home improvements, particularly garden outbuilding, garages, and
than others. This will be down to many factors, the wealth, the housing
stock, household structures, and cultural differences among many
other outside works.
The larger communities in the list, however, are those in the Suburban 2021 edition
others, which the classifications seek to capture. Achievers and Semi-detached Suburbia groups, which fall into the
These classifications have eight broad groupings (supergroups) Suburbanite supergroup (6), and Urban Professionals & Families and Contents
which are then subdivided into 26 groups and further divided into Ageing Urban Living groups which fall into the Urbanites supergroup (5).
76 subgroups. Tables 3.1 & 3.2 draw from the 26 group classifications. When we look at those groups seeing the biggest uplift in 2020, • Home
They show firstly the top 10 areas types where planning applications Table 3.2, there is a lot of crossover. Although top of the table we • About us
are most common and secondly the biggest risers between 2019 and find Challenged Terrace Workers a subset of the Hard-pressed Living • Introduction
2020. The measure used is how many planning applications were group (8). This rise fits with the regional data we see, as these groups • Types of improvement
submitted for every 1,000 people in employment. The employment are more concentrated in northern England and Wales, which has • Who is spending?
also allows us to scale the size of the population within each group. seen stronger house price inflation that may also have increased • Regional overview
Table 3.1 looks at areas where applications are highest as a the appetite for home improvement. Households in this group are • North East
proportion of the employed population. Topping the table is Asian more likely to have non-dependent children and more likely to live in • North West
Traits. This subgroup of Multicultural Metropolitans supergroup (8) terraced homes, as the description suggests. • Yorkshire & Humber
has a higher proportion of people of Asian ethnicities. They are more Interestingly there was a decline in home improvement applications • East Midlands
likely to be homeowners living in detached houses or semis, with two in communities within the Asian Traits subgroup. Indeed, while not • West Midlands
or more cars, low unemployment, and working in information and shown within the table, applications fell in most of the groups in the • East of England
communications or financial related industries. Multicultural Metropolitans supergroup (4). Furthermore, across • London
Second comes Ageing Rural Dwellers, a subset of the Rural Residents all the groups within the highly London-based Ethnicity Central • South East
supergroup (1). Here there is a higher proportion aged 65 and over, supergroup (3) applications fell in 2020. All groups within the • South West
particularly those over 90, often living in communal homes. The Cosmopolitan supergroup (2) all saw applications decline in 2020. • Wales
• Scotland
• Drivers of home improvement
Change in applications Applications per Share (%) of those in Change in applications Applications per Share (%) of those in
Area classification groups Code 2019 to 2020 1,000 employed employment Area classification groups Code 2019 to 2020 1,000 employed employment • Methodology
Asian Traits 4C -5.1% 24.7 2.5% Challenged Terraced Workers 8B 11.2% 2.7 2.9%
Ageing Rural Dwellers 1C 8.6% 17.3 1.5% Ageing Rural Dwellers 1C 8.6% 17.3 1.5%
Suburban Achievers 6A 6.4% 16.9 8.5% Farming Communities 1A 8.4% 16.2 3.7%
Farming Communities 1A 8.4% 16.2 3.7% Rural Tenants 1B 7.6% 14.3 6.2%
Rural Tenants 1B 7.6% 14.3 6.2% Industrious Communities 8A 6.7% 5.5 4.8%
Ageing Urban Living 5B 2.0% 11.9 7.8% Semi-Detached Suburbia 6B 6.5% 10.4 12.7% Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Semi-Detached Suburbia 6B 6.5% 10.4 12.7% Suburban Achievers 6A 6.4% 16.9 8.5%
Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Aspiring and Affluent 2D -4.4% 8.8 2.1% Hard-Pressed Ageing Workers 8C 4.8% 5.0 4.5%
Aspirational Techies 3D -2.5% 7.6 2.5% Urban Professionals and Families 5A 4.5% 7.5 12.1% 0151 353 3500
Urban Professionals & Families 5A 4.5% 7.5 12.1% White Communities 7C 4.2% 2.1 1.9% info@barbour-abi.com
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Table 3.1 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS Table 3.2 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS @BarbourABI
Top 10 area classifications ranked by applications per 10,000 people employed Top 10 area classifications ranked by change in the number of applications
14The Home Improvement Report 2021 Edition
This supergroup, which is characterised by densely populated urban home workers broadly trebled. The view is that things will never be
areas, includes the Comfortable Cosmopolitans and Aspiring Affluent the same, with homeworking becoming an established norm.
groups and areas heavily populated with students. The immediate impact was to create what some in housing circles
That there were falls across these areas fits the broader narrative described as a “race for space”, with people moving to buy a bigger
that the pandemic reshaped the demand for home improvement
quite substantially.
home. House prices went up while the price of flats fell in many areas,
particularly in London. People also turned to improving their homes 2021 edition
Certainly, when we look at the pattern of change in local authorities and gardens when they could after the start of the first lockdown.
using a similar classification to describe their predominant population No one knows how this will pan out precisely, but there is a Contents
(Chart 3.3) it is those cast within the groups of London cosmopolitan, broadening view that homes have been revalued in the minds of
University towns and cities, and Ethnically diverse metropolitan households and homeowners. This suggests households will be willing • Home
categories that saw applications fall in 2020. Local authorities that to spend more on improving their homes than in the past. Importantly, • About us
were predominantly rural and suburban did well, as did urban areas they will also look to make the space they work in more suitable. • Introduction
in existing and former industrial heartlands. • Types of improvement
The effects of this can be seen in the home improvers data, with
• Who is spending?
When we examine areas based on deprivation, Chart 3.4 suggest it applications for garden outbuildings and works and garages (which
• Regional overview
is communities at either end of the scale that have been more active will include many conversions) surging.
in putting in planning applications for home improvement over the • North East
As we look to the future, those tracking the home improvement
pandemic period. • North West
market will be interested in how those who are given the opportunity
• Yorkshire & Humber
to work more from home or those who are thrust into it will react
Working from home to the change. What doesn’t work for them in their current home
• East Midlands
A massive factor in the upswing in home improvement issues must • West Midlands
if they make the leap to far more homeworking in the future? If
be the enforced mass experiment in working from home. The figures • East of England
their current home doesn’t work for them, where and in what type
have fluctuated but taking data for late November last year compared • London
of home they would ideally like to live? Can they afford to move
with 2019 data, Chart 3.5 shows that across Britain the number of • South East
or improve?
• South West
• Wales
• Scotland
Rural-Urban fringe 2.4%
16
2019 • Drivers of home improvement
Thriving rural 4.5%
Ethnically diverse -3.4%
2020 • Methodology
metropolitan
Area group classification of local authorities
Suburban traits 7.6%
-2.9% 12
London cosmopolitan
Town living 8.6%
GB AVERAGE 4.3%
Percentage figure are the rise
Country living 7.8%
or fall in applications between
University -0.5% 8
%
towns & cities
Remoter coastal living 5.7%
2019 & 2020
Countryside 5.1%
Larger towns & ciites 3.6% Barbour ABI, Hinderton Point,
4
Manufacturing traits 8.4% Lloyd Drive, Cheshire Oaks,
Servs., manu. &
mining legacy
11.5%
2020 Cheshire, CH65 9HQ
Scottish industrial 7.4% 2019
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heritage
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Home improvement applications per 1,000 private homes
info@barbour-abi.com
Chart 3.3 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS Chart 3.4 Source: Barbour ABI, ONS www.barbour-abi.com
@BarbourABI
Activity by local authority area classification Share of home improvement planning applications by index of multiple deprivation decile
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