THE government could meet nearly half its target of building 1.5 million homes by bringing old buildings back into use, a cross-party group of MPs has said.

The Commons culture, media & sport committee says that using heritage buildings to meet housing need is “no longer a niche or peripheral opportunity but a major and under-recognised means of addressing the country’s acute housing shortage.”

Historic England estimates that some 670,000 homes could be delivered by reviving unused buildings.

The committee’s report, published today, recommends a “heritage-to-housing” scheme similar to Italy’s €1.0 house initiative, alongside tax incentives and VAT relief, for maintaining listed buildings.

But the MPs warn that heritage construction skills are in short supply, posing “one of the most serious risks to the long-term protection of the UK’s built heritage.”

Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage said the government’s approach “reveals a deep complacency, is devoid of ambition, and shows a complete lack of imagination.”

“Reuse first should be the guiding principle,” she said.

A Department of Culture, Media & Sport spokesperson said the government had “committed £230 million over the course of this parliament to rejuvenate heritage buildings” and would consider the report’s recommendations.