Queen’s speech was a first step to deliver certainty

December 23, 2019

During the state opening of Parliament, the Queen set out the Government’s legislative agenda.

Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “We are pleased to see the Government provide much needed Brexit certainty for our members. However, while the new immigration system is being shaped, a temporary construction VISA should be considered.

“We also hope to see the Government redouble its efforts to fix the broken planning process, which creates far greater business uncertainty in the construction sector than Brexit.

“The NFB supports the Government’s commitment to boost homeownership, invest in skills and infrastructure, tackle climate change and increase building safety. We look forward to collaborating with ministers and the civil service to help reach these targets.

“The only frustration was the lack of focus on crucial issues such as late payment, social housing, procurement reform and fixing the broken planning system.”

Nick Sangwin, NFB chair, said “A cut in business rates for small businesses is welcome news; however the Government has missed an opportunity to tackle late payment which seriously damages and too often bankrupts SMEs.”

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

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove asks government to carefully consider property tax changes

The UK’s largest property platform Rightmove is asking the government to carefully consider the impact of any changes to property taxation to avoid unintended consequences which would risk stalling parts of the market. Key data National property tax Just under a third (30%) of homes for sale in England are priced at over £500,000, and…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Get Fast and Reliable Basement Flood Cleaning Services

Having water in your basement is awful. It could be because of a storm, busted pipe, or bad sump pump. Whatever the reason, water damage in your basement has disastrous effects if not dealt with. Basement Flood Cleaning Services are what you need. They will dry it out, disinfect the floor, and have your basement…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 21/08/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Providing comprehensive, predictive operational intelligence across all aspects of building operations  JLL (NYSE: JLL) this week introduced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that are now available as an add-on to Prism, its award-winning building operations platform. As part of JLL’s property management technology ecosystem powered by…
Read More →
Breaking News

UK House Price Index summary: June 2025

The average monthly rate of house price growth in June was 1.4%. The average annual rate of house price growth in June was 3.7%, up from 2.7% in May. As a result, the average UK house price remains at £269,000.   CEO of Yopa, Verona Frankish, commented: “June’s figures reflect a market that is steadily…
Read More →
Breaking News

Private rent and house prices, UK: August 2025

Average UK monthly private rents increased by 5.9%, to £1,343, in the 12 months to July 2025 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 6.7% in the 12 months to June 2025. Average rents increased to £1,398 (6.0%) in England, £807 (7.9%) in Wales, and £999 (3.6%) in Scotland, in the 12 months…
Read More →
Breaking News

Industry response to latest inflation figures

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments: “Unfortunately, any increase seen within the rate of inflation does brings very justified concerns to consumers, many of whom are still struggling with the cost of living, which has been steadily rising over the past few years. “Although there is more work to be done to help ensure inflation…
Read More →