Is the housing crisis returning as a Government priority?

Planning reform will go a long way to helping solve the housing and skills crisis.

Addressing the policy conference of the Home Builders Federation (HBF), Housing Secretary James Brokenshire set out what the Government is doing to tackle the housing shortage and improve the quality of new homes.

Brokenshire emphasised:

  • the need to reduce planning delays;
  • increase the capability of local planning departments;
  • improve procedure to accelerate the end-to-end planning process; and
  • planning reform.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes Brokenshire’s speech, particularly since it seems to suggest that housing may be returning as a priority for the Government.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “The housing crisis is the greatest challenge to social equality that we have in the UK. The Government must prioritise it. By building more and understanding how we physically get more quality homes built, we can make really positive changes to our communities.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy at the House Builders Association, said: “When ministers utter the words, planning reform, the industry gets quite excited. Getting permission to build is a painful, slow and desperate process, especially for SMEs.”

Addressing the policy conference of the Home Builders Federation (HBF), Housing Secretary James Brokenshire set out what the Government is doing to tackle the housing shortage and improve the quality of new homes.

Brokenshire emphasised:

  • the need to reduce planning delays;
  • increase the capability of local planning departments;
  • improve procedure to accelerate the end-to-end planning process; and
  • planning reform.

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) welcomes Brokenshire’s speech, particularly since it seems to suggest that housing may be returning as a priority for the Government.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “The housing crisis is the greatest challenge to social equality that we have in the UK. The Government must prioritise it. By building more and understanding how we physically get more quality homes built, we can make really positive changes to our communities.”

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of housing and planning policy at the House Builders Association, said: “When ministers utter the words, planning reform, the industry gets quite excited. Getting permission to build is a painful, slow and desperate process, especially for SMEs. Reforming it will go a long way to helping solve the housing and skills crisis.”

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 27/10/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.     Who controls the infrastructure, data and intelligence that runs inside commercial buildings? By Author Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Commercial real estate owners have invested heavily in technology to improve building operations, connect tenants and monitor performance. Yet behind the growing number of systems…
Read More →
Breaking News

35% of UK homes are in postcode areas where house prices are falling

House price falls spread to a third of homes as sellers face growing competition for buyers More than a third (35 per cent) of UK homes are in postcode areas where house prices are falling, up from 12 per cent a year ago Price falls are concentrated in London and the South East where 85…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Budget wishlist

Kevin Shaw, National Sales Managing Director at LRG With the Budget just days away, the property market is in a slightly better place than it was this time last year. Stamp Duty has been ruled out of this year’s changes, which removes the kind of speculation that held buyers and sellers back last autumn. The…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry experts comment

Ahead of Wednesday’s Autumn Budget, property industry experts from across the residential sales, lettings, land and property development, mortgage finance and client money protection sectors have shared their predictions, priorities and warnings for the Chancellor. With speculation surrounding property taxation, first-time buyer support, landlord investment, inheritance tax and housebuilding, industry leaders outline what Wednesday’s announcements…
Read More →
Adding second coat of varnish floor boards
Estate Agent Talk

5 Renovations That Can Transform a Property Before It Goes on the Market

Ask a vendor what they plan to fix before listing and the answer is often too ambitious. A loft conversion won’t be finished in time, and it rarely pays back on a quick sale. The changes that actually move a listing are smaller and cheaper, and they show up in the photos. Here are five…
Read More →
Breaking News

Seven things to do if a tree damages your property

Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are bringing strong winds and heavy rain across the UK this weekend, meaning homeowners could find themselves dealing with fallen trees, damaged roofs, crushed cars and difficult conversations with neighbours about who should pay. But what should you do if a neighbour’s tree comes crashing through your roof? Will your…
Read More →