As the Conservative Party gathers in Birmingham for their annual conference, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has delivered a five point plan to Conservative Party leader, David Cameron MP, to kick start the building industry.
At a time when the UK economy is going through a very difficult period with house building at its lowest level since 1945 the FMB's five point plan aims to kick start the building industry. The five points are:
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Tackle the existing housing stock by having a coherent strategy to make it more energy efficient and greener
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Reduce VAT from 17.5% to 5% on repairs and maintenance work
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Simplify the planning system to make it quicker and simpler
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Abandon the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy on developers
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Reform Stamp Duty to make it a graduated tax.
Speaking outside Conservative Campaign Headquarters, Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs, at the FMB said:
"Current proposals to deal with the desperate situation facing the construction industry and the wider economy do not go far enough. There is currently a crisis in the housing market with many first time buyers unable to get a mortgage let alone afford a first home. Alongside this there are over 90,000 families living in temporary accommodation and 1.5 million families on council house waiting lists; the case for building new homes is therefore very clear. However, if we are to have any realistic chance of building the homes that are so clearly needed we believe that there are five key issues that need to be addressed. That is why today we have delivered our five point plan to Conservative Party leader David Cameron MP."
Berry continued:
"The FMB wants to work with politicians from across the political spectrum to formulate credible solutions to get the construction industry through these difficult times. We want our five point plan to spark a debate at this week's Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham and hope that Conservative MPs will return to Westminster in October ready to work with the FMB to help put these proposals into action."
26th September 2008
