Brexit gridlock could cripple construction

March 22, 2019

The NFB is seriously concerned about the consequences of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Leaving without well-defined transitional arrangements will leave the construction industry worse off than the financial crisis of 2008, which saw the industry losing more than 250,000 skilled workers.

With the UK currently importing 90% of its timber from the EU, construction SMEs will likely have to pay VAT upfront before receiving the material in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This could potentially lead to cash flow issues and delays in building homes at a time when the UK is still facing the most acute housing crisis since the end of the Second World War.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “With all the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit process, the construction industry needs politicians to work together and provide a clear direction so that businesses can plan ahead at a time when the country is suffering from an acute skills shortage.”

National Federation of Builders

The National Federation of Builders is a United Kingdom trade association representing the interests of small and medium-sized building contractors in England and Wales.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

More than a third of homes undergo price reduction

The latest research from GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that more than a third (34.4%) of homes sold subject to contract (SSTC) across Britain’s major cities have undergone an asking price reduction, with this figure climbing to more than half in Bournemouth, raising questions over whether sellers, and their agents, are pricing their properties realistically when first…
Read More →
Breaking News

‘Explosion’ in e-signature use at Land Registry spells progress for homebuying reform

The number of e-signatures used at Land Registry has exploded in the latest quarter — jumping more than ten times in just three months to 643, Novus Strategy can reveal. Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) are a central plank of the revolution unfolding in homebuying because they reduce friction and save time. It’s a combination of…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

The Flats Above the Shop Problem

Why residential property hidden inside commercial ownership keeps causing trouble By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets Somewhere in many commercial property portfolios sits a small collection of front doors that was never really part of the plan. Many large and small retailers inherit residential property portfolios by default as part of mixed-use…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 2/11/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   April 2027: The date Landlords become data companies   From 6 April 2027 some landlords pay 4% more tax – but a bigger burden is the extra governmental red tape Thought leadership by Olivier Jauniaux Founder of NestLink There was a moment in the 2026 Budget speech…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Buying Alone? What Solo Buyers Need to Know Before Making an Offer on a House

Figures show that solo buyers accounted for 36.9% of Barclays’ mortgage completions in June 2026, as more people chose to step onto the property ladder without a partner beside them. Choosing independence over waiting for a joint purchase has doubled over the last 50+ years, with solo first-time buyers doubling from 15% before 1980 to…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How to Make a New-Build Living Room Feel Less Like a Show Home

An empty new-build living room can be surprisingly difficult to furnish. The walls are freshly painted, the sockets are in place, and there is nothing to remove before decorating begins. Yet once the sofa arrives, the room can still feel unsettled: too bare in some places, awkwardly crowded in others. The answer rarely involves buying…
Read More →