In short, there were no new announcements for small builders in the Spring Statement. It was a missed opportunity to tackle the well documented challenges holding the sector back, from skills and planning to the decline of small housebuilders.
The Chancellor delivered the 2026 Spring Statement, focusing on how the economy is performing and Labour’s record in government so far. For builders hoping for new measures to support construction, housebuilding or skills and Training, there was very little to take away.
Much of the Statement reiterated existing policies. While skills and infrastructure were mentioned, no new funding, programmes or timelines were set out for the construction industry.
What was (and wasn’t) announced
The Spring Statement did not include:
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New funding commitments for SME housebuilding
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Clear incentives to support energy efficient retrofitting
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Progress on construction licensing reform
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Targeted measures to address the decline in small builder activity
The closest thing to relevant news was a signal that the Government intends to bring forward further policies on apprenticeships and getting young people into work in the weeks and months ahead. However, no detail was provided on what this might look like.
Why this matters for small builders
This comes at a challenging time for the industry. Housebuilding is falling, costs remain high, planning delays continue to hold up projects, and many small firms are leaving the sector.
Small and medium-sized builders play a vital role in delivering new homes, improving the energy efficiency of existing housing, and training the next generation of skilled workers. To do that, builders need a planning system that works, practical support to take on apprentices, long-term certainty on retrofit demand, and a robust licensing system to raise standards. None of these priorities were meaningfully addressed.
What the FMB said
Today’s Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to deliver the decisive action the construction industry urgently needs. While the Chancellor focused on reiterating previous announcements, small builders were left waiting for the practical measures that would unlock growth, boost housebuilding, and drive progress on retrofitting the UK’s homes.”
What this means for your business
For most FMB members, the Spring Statement does not change daytoday operations. There are no new grants, schemes or regulatory changes to factor into current projects. However, continued uncertainty around skills, planning and retrofit policy means many builders will need to plan cautiously in the months ahead.
The FMB will continue pressing Government for policies that support small builders, high standards and long-term growth. You can read more about our work on our campaigns page, where we will keep you updated on any future announcements.
