This has been blamed for putting a strain on housing supply. Economists have said that because people are living in their homes for longer, there are fewer homes for younger people to buy.
It doesn't cross their minds to let builders build enough homes for people to live in.
It is surprising how much land is held by the National Trust in the U.K. then there are rhe private estates, sheep grazing lands, cow pastures, etc. that take up most of the buildable spaces.