Help for SME house builders welcomed by HBA
The Government has announced that it will be commissioning house building. While this will help build 13,000 homes, 40% of which will be starter homes, this initiative recognises the contribution that SME house builders can make to helping solve the housing crisis by making the scheme more accessible to smaller house builders.
Achieving planning has become increasingly difficult for SMEs, therefore a commissioned site with planning permission ought to be well received by the industry.
Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor at the HBA, remarked, “The onerous planning system must be streamlined and clearly the government agrees. Policy makers must recognise this scheme as a positive step and not the leading solution to building more homes.”
Wojtulewicz continued, “With the upcoming NPPF consultation, the HBA is excited to see how in tune the government is with solving the housing crisis. The solution to this crisis may rest on whether the Government believes output and house prices are tied to a fairer planning system and improved access for SMEs.
“The fact remains that output and affordability was not at crisis point when SMEs built the majority of homes. Now providing only 30 percent of the market, it is not SMEs posting record profits and joining the FTSE-100 while homes become less affordable on a weekly basis”
