An honest debate about housing is needed

April 25, 2019

SMEs are integral to solving the housing crisis.

Lord Bourne is introducing a home building debate that focuses on driving up supply, reforming the planning process and improving the speed and quality of new homes.

Citing the ambitious 300,000 new homes a year figure, Lord Bourne also focuses on modern methods of construction and making home ownership a reality for younger generations.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes Lord Bourne’s housing debate as it provides a platform to discuss planning reform and solutions to the housing crisis.

Increasing the construction of new homes fundamentally relies on the efficiency of the planning system, where local plans allocate sites for development but can take years to grant planning permission.

In late 2019, Lord Bourne will publish an Accelerated Planning Green Paper, looking at how best we can speed up the planning process from beginning to end. The NFB thinks this will help local authorities understand the role they play in building more new homes, as well as allow the Government to rethink what planning reform really means.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “SMEs are integral to solving the housing crisis because they build on small sites, which are built more quickly and deliver proportionately more affordable homes than large sites. They also train 4 in 5 construction apprentices, employ within 15 miles of their head offices, and win work by fostering their professional reputation.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy for the House Builders Association (HBA), said: “We need an honest debate about housing. People think builders buy some land and then just put up a house. They don’t realise how painstaking and expensive the process really is. Focusing on planning reform is vital because it informs every step of development: from the quality of the home to who lives there and why.”

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

Estate Agent Talk

77% of buyers refuse to buy a flood risk property

Despite 4.7 million English homes facing flood risk New research from Lyons Bowe has revealed that 77% of homebuyers would not consider purchasing a property in a flood risk area, despite more than 4.7 million homes across England currently being deemed at risk of flooding. The findings come as the Government launches a new flood taskforce amid…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

Poor Communication becomes Expensive at Scale

The hidden cost of fragmented property management By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets A landlord asks for an update on a repair. The property manager asks the contractor, who is waiting for access from the tenant. Meanwhile, the accounts team has received an invoice but cannot tell whether the work is complete.…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

When Estate Agents Decide to Go Solo

Leaving an established estate agency to work independently gives experienced agents more control over fees, client service and working hours. It also brings responsibility for compliance, cash flow and every part of the customer experience. Before handing in your notice, test the idea against realistic sales volumes, local competition and the amount of time you…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What Should Buyers Ask Before Reserving a New Build?

Research from Skipton Building Society has found that 44% of aspiring first time buyers would rather buy a new build than an older property, with just 30% favouring an older build. Modern fittings and appliances were the biggest draw, cited by over half of those who preferred a new build, alongside the promise of lower…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK cities with the largest property price increases revealed

A new study has unveiled the most challenging UK cities for first-time buyers. Newry leads Northern Ireland’s ranking, with a property price increase of 12.8%, while Hull leads Great Britain’s ranking, recording an increase of 6.6%. The research examined data from HM Land Registry to reveal the cities that have faced the highest property price…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK’s Most Expensive Property Hotspots Revealed

More than one in three homes sold in Camden last year fetched at least £1 million, making it the UK’s leading million-pound property hotspot in a new study of England and Wales. But despite London’s dominance at the top of the rankings, the research reveals a surprising trend: median sale prices in several expensive London…
Read More →