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Following last week's Housing Strategy and now the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, it is clear that new housebuilding is expected to play a major role in achieving the Government's growth strategy.
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Following last week's Housing Strategy and now the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, it is clear that new housebuilding is expected to play a major role in achieving the Government's growth strategy.
This is welcome, as are the proposed planning reforms and the extra investment in stalled sites, new building and infrastructure.
However, with house prices unlikely to rise in the next few years, the Government must start to tackle existing and planned increases in regulatory costs.
The Chancellor's clear statement that he is "worried about the combined impact of the green policies adopted not just in Britain, but also by the European Union, on some of our heavy, energy-intensive industries" and that " We are not going to save the planet by shutting down our steel mills, aluminium smelters and paper manufacturers", is welcome, but he must apply the same logic and courage to scrapping the crippling burden on the housebuilding industry of the previous Government's commitment to Zero Carbon Homes by 2016.
His further statement that, "If we burden them with endless social and environmental goals - however worthy in their own right - then not only will we not achieve those goals, but the businesses will fail, jobs will be lost, and our country will be poorer" exactly describes the future of the housebuilding industry - the very industry on which he has pinned so many hopes for economic recovery - unless he reduces its costs
In next year's Budget, the Chancellor must start to deliver on the Government's pledges to reduce the regulatory burden on the housebuilding industry, not now just for the sake of the industry, but for the very survival of his own jobs and growth strategy.
ENDS
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Editors notes:
1) The House Builders Association is a division of the National Federation of Builders. It has almost 600 members and is numerically the largest representative body exclusively in the housebuilding industry. Its members are mainly, but not all, small and medium-sized housebuilders. Thus, HBA represents virtually the full industry spectrum, apart from the very largest companies and its membership is typical of those building the 40% of homes not built by the largest volume housebuilders
2) The NFB is one of the UK's longest established trade federations for small to medium-sized (SME) builders, contractors and house builders across England and Wales. It was created 150 years ago to represent the building profession and to help create the conditions for its members to thrive and contribute to the economic success of the UK. Its members range from the sole trader to large, multi-million pound construction companies, with turnover ranging from below £500k to £500m plus. The NFB provides advice, training and business solutions to ensure members stay up to date.
3) The NFB campaigns on the issues that impact the construction industry such as procurement, utilities, sustainability and funding. It represents the industry at government and industry forums and is an active media commentator and policy influencer.
For further information please contact Roger Humber, Strategic Policy Advisor for the House Builders Association on 01603 507855.
Contact Information
Sameena Thompson
National Federation of Builders
B&CE Building
Manor Royal
Crawley
RH10 9QP
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