APPG for SME builders report highlights best builders

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for SME House Builders has released its report, ‘Ways to improve the planning system in the UK’, which identifies many of the barriers small and medium sized housebuilders (SMEs) face when entering, engaging with and navigating the planning system.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “This reports, which the NFB’s, House Builders Association HBA inputted into, doesn’t just look at speeding up planning but why consistent, certain planning is good for builders, communities, councils and planners.

It highlights the reality that SME builders are an undervalued part of the housing supply chain and must be properly enabled to solve the housing crisis.”

The report, which is sponsored by Aldermore Bank, asks sixteen questions on a range of topics, containing:
• Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments
• Planning reform
• Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
• Sustainability
• Disadvantages of SMEs
• Recommendations

Concluding with seventeen recommendations, including the HBA’s long proposed small sites register, the report takes a balanced approach to understanding the barriers SME builders face and why the entire housing supply chain, from planner and policy maker, to builder and resident, will benefit if we can solve the major barriers that face in the planning system.

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning for the HBA, said: “In the last five years, the Government has listened to SMEs but national policy reform, such as the housing white paper has not always delivered better outcomes at the local level. This APPG report highlights this and does a fantastic job in producing recommendations which can ensure more of our best builders and local employers can win work and solve our housing crisis.

I would like to pay special thanks to APPG chair, Andrew Lewer, MP for Northampton South and secretariat, Andrew Cumpsty, who put together this report and took the time to listen and take seriously the challenges our industry and HBA members experience on a daily basis.”

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry reaction

Following today’s Autumn Budget, reaction from property industry experts on six key areas for the property market. First-time buyer support: The £4.7bn Your First Home equity loan scheme, supporting 70,000 buyers, alongside the introduction of a new First Time Buyer ISA. Inflation and borrowing costs: The extension of the fuel duty freeze, household energy support…
Read More →
Breaking News

Can you legally BAN Halloween Trick or Treaters?

People who dread the annual knock of trick-or-treaters may have more power to keep Halloween callers away than they realise. As millions of children prepare to take to the streets on October 31, a property law expert has explained what homeowners can do if they do not want strangers walking up their path or knocking…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What the sector need to do differently to give first time buyers a chance

By Peter Hawley, Director, SOWN (part of LRG) The mortgage and property sector needs to stop assuming that younger buyers are either ready to buy outright or not ready at all. For many, the reality is somewhere in between. They may have stable employment, a deposit and a strong desire to own, but still find…
Read More →
Letting Agent Talk

The 50-property tipping point: when landlords need a different approach

By Adam Hills, Client Services Director, LRG Living Markets A sizeable residential property portfolio can create significant opportunities for long-term income and capital growth. But as it expands, so does the complexity of managing it effectively. For landlords with 50 or more properties, the challenge extends well beyond finding tenants or collecting rent to communication,…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Home is where the stress is

Couples find first-time buying more anxiety-inducing than buying solo First-time buying: Anxiety doubles when finding a home with your partner! Stress and anxiety significantly increase when buying a first home with your partner compared to flying solo The likes of searching for a property, applying for mortgages and progressing through the legalities are all significantly…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 28/10/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   If Zoopla is for sale, then so are you Thought leadership by Olivier Jauniaux Founder of NestLink On 14 August, Providence Equity Partners announced it had agreed to acquire Hometrack from ZPG. Bloomberg confirmed the seller the same day. Terms were not disclosed, though Real Deals, citing…
Read More →