With residential construction performing at its worst rate since the pandemic began, local building firms are continuing to suffer at the hands of price inflation, falling consumer optimism and skills shortages, say the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to recent PMI construction data.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “With output and optimism hitting lows we last saw at the start of the pandemic, it’s a worrying time for small building firms. Hardworking local builders have been beset by challenges and at a time when they rightly hoped for recovery, things look set to get worse, with inflation on the rise alongside a likely decline in consumer demand for building services as the cost of living crisis bites.”
Berry continued: “If the market continues to stagnate, many of these local building firms will face difficulty remaining solvent. The Government must set out a credible plan for keeping the small building firms afloat. The upcoming planning reforms must make it easier for small housing developers, and reverse their decades of decline. The Government should also bring forward a long-term National Retrofit Strategy to decarbonise the nation’s homes, which would create a stable workstream for local builders whilst also moving the UK closer to net zero.”
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.
