search.noResults

search.searching

note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
INDUSTRY NEWS 5


General election “the ideal opportunity” to review housing


Prime Minister Theresa May has called for a snap general election on 8th June, giving the reason that “after the country has voted to leave the European Union, Britain needed certainty, stability and strong leadership.” As British Ministers prepare for Brexit


negotiations, commentors said May was seeking a clear mandate to give her a stronger netiotiating hand in the talks, after so-called “division” in parliament. “The country is coming together,” said the PM, “but Westminster is not.” She made it clear that the party intends


to fulfil its plan for Brexit: “Britain is leaving the European Union and there can be no turning back.”


INDUSTRY REACTION The industry generally appeared to react favourably to the news, but many implored politicians to give priority to the construc- tion sector, hoping for new and effective solutions to problems in housing. CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat has


said the early election could be an “ideal opportunity” for each political party to look at “pragmatic proposals” to solve the housing crisis. She said: “We would like to see housing


take centre stage during the campaign, with a proper debate on how we solve our housing crisis and policy proposals which reflect the scale and seriousness of the problems facing so many people in the UK. “This is a key opportunity for all parties


to look at rethinking the balance of housing investment,” continued Alafat, pushing for “specific measures to get us building the genuinely affordable homes we so desperately need.” Mark Farmer, author of the government- commissioned Farmer Review of the UK’s


WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOUSING TAKE CENTRE STAGE DURING THE CAMPAIGN, WITH A PROPER DEBATE ON HOW WE SOLVE OUR


HOUSING CRISIS CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat


WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK


skills shortage and CEO of Cast Consultancy, said that whatever the outcome of the election “the construction skills gap will remain,” as will the “impact of Brexit.” He hoped that the campaign will see


“some serious solutions on offer as part of the main parties’ manifestos that adequately reflect the importance of the construction industry’s welfare and future. Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, believed the PM was “right” to call an early election, “if she wants a clear and decisive mandate to lead the Brexit negotiations.” “However,” said Berry, “it’s important


that the general election is more than just a vote on the UK’s approach to the Brexit negotiations.” “The construction industry will want to


hear from the various parties about how they would overcome wider challenges, such as how they would increase house- building and how they would ensure that we train more apprentices.” Lewis Johnston, RICS parliamentary


affairs manager, said he believes the motivation for calling the Election was clear. “With a working majority of just 17,” commented Lewis, “the Government’s freedom of action is restrained and under-


standably the Prime Minister wants a stronger mandate as she embarks on the Brexit negotations.” “In the immediate term,” continued


Lewis, “the move inevitably puts a question mark over policy and creates further uncertainty across the built environment.” He believes it is now the responsibility of


all parties “to set out clear policy proposals across land, property, construction and infrastructure to ensure to UK can deliver the homes, infrastructure factories, offices and major building projects it needs to thrive.” Mark Naysmith, UK CEO at WSP |


Parsons Brinckerhoff, suggested that, with a “clear mandate,” the new government will “hopefully create a more stable environ- ment that reinvigorates confidence.” “Whilst infrastructure delivery is


supported by all main political parties in some form, 80 per cent of the construction industry believes that the public doesn’t understand the role it plays in enabling growth. “We’ll therefore be looking for parties to


explain at a national and regional level why pro-infrastructure policies are good for UK plc, for productivity and for local housing, services and jobs.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60