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

Breaking Property News 11/6/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Leasing decisioning platform set to scale with new injection of investment Findigs, the AI-native leasing decisioning platform that helps residential operators across the U.S. improve revenue and grow their bottom line, announced that it closed a $32 million Series C funding round led by…
Read More →
Breaking News

Cost of void periods climbs by as much as 53% for landlords

Landlords face growing pressure on profits as the cost of void periods climbs by as much as 53%.   The latest research by property management specialist, Rushbrook & Rathbone, has found that the average cost to landlords as a result of void periods between tenancies has climbed by as much as 52.9% across some areas…
Read More →
Breaking News

Lack of Supply Keeps Upward Pressure on Rents

More ‘affordable’ areas see rents rise two times faster than the national average    Rents are rising 5% on average in more affordable areas where rents are below £750pcm – over twice the national average of 2.1% Regionally, Carlisle (+9.1%), Kilmarnock (+9%) and Halifax (+6.5%) are among the fastest-rising markets where rents are rising quickly…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

First-time buyer price hotspots revealed

New analysis from the UK’s largest property platform Rightmove, reveals where first-time buyer prices are rising fastest across Great Britain Bridlington in East Riding of Yorkshire (£167,321) and St Helens in Merseyside (£133,106) lead the way, with average asking prices up 18% compared to last year Falkirk (+17% to £118,327) and Hartlepool (+12% to £104,76)…
Read More →
Breaking News

Summer set to bring seasonal spike in homeseller activity

The latest analysis by Foxtons has revealed that while autumn is traditionally the busiest time of year for the property market, summer is the ideal time for homeowners to get their property ready and listed if they want to take advantage of the heightened buyer activity still to come in 2026. Foxtons analysed government property transaction…
Read More →
Breaking News

World’s Football Stadiums Occupy Incredibly Valuable Real Estate

The latest research from LandSale, the property portal dedicated to land and rural property, has revealed which nations competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are sitting on the most valuable home turf, based on current land values surrounding their national stadiums. LandSale analysed the primary home stadium used by each national team and applied…
Read More →