In response to the announced pause of planning reforms in England, there’s concern that this will further delay moves to support SME developers to build, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Almost half of small house builders say that the planning system is one of the biggest constraints on their ability to build more homes. The pausing of planning reforms that had proposed greater support for SME developers is therefore a concern.”
Berry concluded: “Forty years ago, small builders delivered 40% of new homes; but today it’s just 12%. We won’t fix our broken housing market if we don’t make it easier for SMEs to build the high quality homes they are known for, in their local communities.”
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
