Jim Penman, the charismatic Australian entrepreneur behind the global Jim's Mowing franchise, has launched a blistering attack on UK immigration policy, branding it the primary driver of the nation's deepening housing crisis.
In an exclusive interview, the multi-millionaire businessman argued that record levels of net migration are placing an unsustainable strain on Britain's infrastructure and property market, pushing home ownership out of reach for a generation of young Britons.
The Immigration-Housing Nexus
Penman, whose franchise empire spans the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, did not mince his words. He presented a stark equation: soaring demand for housing, fuelled by high immigration, met with chronically insufficient supply. The result, he claims, is a perfect storm of skyrocketing rents and unaffordable house prices.
'You simply cannot have population growth at this current rate without a corresponding plan for housing, schools, and hospitals,' Penman stated. 'It's basic economics. We are setting up future generations for failure.'
A Blueprint for Change: The Penman Proposal
Moving beyond criticism, the founder laid out a multi-point plan to tackle the issue head-on. His controversial solution centres on a significant reduction in net migration to levels that he believes the UK can realistically accommodate.
Key pillars of his proposal include:
- Slashing Net Migration: A immediate and substantial reduction in annual net migration figures to alleviate pressure on the housing market.
- Infrastructure-First Policy: Tying immigration intake directly to the nation's ability to build new infrastructure, ensuring supply keeps pace with demand.
- Prioritising Skilled Trades: A focus on attracting immigrants with crucial skills, particularly in the construction industry, to help build the homes the country desperately needs.
Business Sense vs. Political Correctness
Penman acknowledges his views may be contentious but defends them as a matter of practical necessity rather than ideology. From his unique perspective as a employer and business operator across multiple countries, he sees the crisis not through a political lens, but one of long-term sustainability and social cohesion.
'This isn't about being anti-immigrant,' he insists. 'It's about being pro-planning. It's about running the country like a responsible business—you cannot spend more than you earn, and you cannot house more people than you have capacity for.'
His intervention adds a powerful, business-focused voice to one of the most divisive and critical debates shaping the UK's future, challenging policymakers to find a balance between economic growth and social stability.
