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.”