The Government must back proposals to help the custom and self build sector, as part of moves to diversity the housing market, said the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), in response to the publication of the Bacon Review.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “I congratulate Richard Bacon on his review of Custom and Self Build, and urge the Government to act on his recommendations if we are to diversify the housing market and meet our housing targets. We must reverse the decline in SME house builders, who deliver great homes, of high quality, in the places people want to live.”
Berry concluded: “56% of FMB house builder members build only as contractors, and the majority build to the designs and specifications of a consumer. The biggest constraint they face is access to viable small sites on which to build. So I welcome the review’s focus on the supply of land, and hope the Government will recognise the support that local authorities need to help more SMEs to build.”
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.
