I've read that 2% figure before. Where does it come from? Do I believe the figure, no of course not!
That figure appears to only include the direct earth under the footprint of the house, and does not include drives, paths, gardens and any external spaces.
From what I understand the larger issue is affordable housing is not being promoted for many people, and since 'having a stake in the system' is a huge reason for inter-generational stability, this can only reap problems in the future. House builders tend to prioritise more expensive, larger homes which forces an under-supply of smaller properties, though the quality of those homes seems to be dropping with more and more build errors. From my friends who work in that field, the problem is that their 'test home' only has to be built to a high standard and the rest of the project is often more slapdash with glaring faults which do not appear until a buyer has taken over the property. Because of that I'd always consider a survey worth the money.
Convenience is a major factor as ST says, I don't think you can persist with the high-street model with 1) paid parking in town centres and 2) losing major retailers from that HS as they move to online purchases + returns.
As for Go Outdoors, it's a real shame but with more and more people comfortable with purchasing online, why would you pay the extra 20% for the identical item when next-day delivery is such a common thing. The only outdoor stores I now buy from are the independent retailers and try to prioritise those guys.