HBA: Goldsmith’s London housing manifesto is a welcome step for SME house builders
The House Builders Association (HBA) responds to Zac Goldsmith's housing manifesto for London.
Zac Goldsmith has unveiled his housing manifesto for London, pledging to double the capital’s house building output to 50,000 homes a year by 2020.
Explaining how the lack of SME house builders has made London a less competitive housing market, Goldsmith promised to create a Small Developers Panel which will give SMEs priority to work on smaller sites.
The House Builders Association (HBA) has often called for SMEs to be able to compete on a level playing field alongside larger house builders. The inclusion of measures aimed at securing work for SME house builders in the Conservative mayoral housing manifesto is a very practical step.
Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor for the HBA, said: “Goldsmith’s housing manifesto hits all the right notes when acknowledging the barriers to SME growth. Giving SME house builders priority on infill and smaller sites will help us build the homes that we need much more quickly than focusing purely on larger development sites.”
Making pledges that will appeal to SMEs and will address the need for more homes is one thing. Ensuring that these pledges remain part of any mayor’s housing agenda after the election is quite another. The HBA is perfectly placed to sit on a small developers panel so that these pledges can be practically implemented.
