Number more important than type in housing construction: CPB

The number of homes built is more important for the position of households in dire straits on the housing market than the exact type of home. “The most important thing for households in dire straits is that as many homes as possible are built.” Discussion often arises about which type of homes should be built, such as small homes or larger homes that ensure more flow in the housing market. According to the CPB, the type of homes built is much less important than the number of homes built, although the amount of land available for housing construction is important. “Policymakers who want to help stuck households can build smaller homes where building land is scarce and make more building land available for larger homes,” according to the researchers. “A construction program that focuses entirely on flow is therefore not optimal.” According to CPB, building with a view on flow must be accompanied by “a policy to create substantially more building land, or only be applied in places where there is less demand for small homes, or where they are more difficult to fit in spatially or financially.” In urban areas, where space is scarce, it makes more sense to build smaller homes.