Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of this Parliament is facing fresh pressure amid warnings of a shortage of scaffolders.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has said at least 6,000 new scaffolders are needed each month to meet projected housebuilding demand and replace retiring workers.
CISRS states that more than 68,000 valid cards are in circulation and estimates that around 120,000 people are involved in scaffolding erection in some capacity.
NASC chief executive Clive Dickin has said that attracting and retaining talent is a significant challenge, warning that around seven per cent of the skilled workforce is expected to retire by 2029.
Labour, led by Keir Starmer, has committed to delivering 300,000 homes a year. That level of output has not been achieved consistently for more than five decades.
Industry bodies say labour shortages remain a constraint across the construction industry. The Chartered Institute of Building has previously warned that skills gaps could slow the delivery of housing and infrastructure targets.
A government spokesperson said £625 million is being invested to attract and train the next generation of construction workers, including scaffolders, describing it as action to address years of underinvestment in skills.
Pressure is particularly acute in London. Under proposals developed by Housing Secretary Steve Reed and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, developers have been offered fast-tracked applications if they agree to reduce affordable housing provision on some schemes from 35 per cent to 20 per cent.
Labour’s national target includes 88,000 homes a year in the capital. However, recent industry figures indicate that private sector starts in London fell sharply last year, with just over 5,500 homes begun in 2025 and fewer than 20,000 expected to complete by year end.
Critics argue that output levels required to meet the 1.5 million homes target will depend not only on planning reform, but on whether the industry can recruit and retain enough skilled workers to keep pace.
For the scaffolding sector, the warning is clear. Without sustained investment in training, recruitment and retention, the supply chain may struggle to support the scale of housebuilding now being proposed.
