INDUSTRY NEWS 5 Manifestos address “chronic” shortage
In their Election manifestos the major UK political parties each offered their own commitments to revive the struggling housing sector, anc commentators from across the industry spoke up to reflect on the policies. Industry voices generally reacting
favourably towards the renewed focus on tackling the country’s housing crisis. Both the affordability and quality of homes were common topics, along with promises to tackle the growing issue of supply in construction. Brexit of course remained a central theme,
but it appears that addressing the country’s “chronic lack of housing” has become a priority in Westminster.
CONSERVATIVES Most of the commentators in the house- building sector focused on the Conservative Party’s manifesto, it being the incumbent Government and leading polls at the time of its release. Mixed with the much-aired fears around austerity measures, most welcomed the party’s recognition of key housing issues, while offering advice for future success. Sarah McMonagle, director of external
affairs at the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), implored Theresa May to put SME housebuilders at the heart of her plans for housing. “The importance of addressing the
country’s chronic shortage of homes is as great as ever,” said McMonagle, commending the party’s appreciation of the “scale of the challenge ahead of us.” She hoped for a more “diverse” and
“innovative” sector, blaming the decline in the number of SMEs for a “haemorrhaging” of the industry’s capacity. McMonagle said: “There is a welcome
emphasis on balancing the pressure for increasing the delivery of new properties with the need to deliver those homes to a high standard,” McMonagle continued, reminding the party of SMEs’ “strong focus on quality.” She concluded: “By supporting greater
diversity in terms of the companies building our new homes, a Conservative government would be killing two birds with one stone. This is a vision that SMEs can build on.” Richard Beresford, chief executive of the
National Federation of Builders (NFB), argued that, although there could have been further detail, the Conservatives have listened to the concerns of the construction industry. The NFB believes small builders are a
vital factor in the housing revival, and since SMEs train two-thirds of construction
apprentices, the trade body would have liked to have seen the manifesto tackle the shortcomings of the apprenticeship levy. However, it acknowledged the manifesto’s promise to pass levy funds and apprentices to SME firms across the supply chain. “Over the coming years,” said Beresford,
“we will certainly be finding out whether this manifesto is for a ‘Stronger Britain and a Prosperous Future’.” Lewis Johnston, Royal Institute of
Chartered Surveyors (RICS) parliamentary affairs, warned that the immigration target must not restrict access to the skilled construction workforce Britain needs. With the “renewed vigour” to reduce net
migration, Johnston was concerned that such an aim “will take no account of the need for skilled workers,” entreating the Government not to “sacrifice the needs of the UK construction sector for the sake of an arbitrary target.” He said: “Currently, 17 per cent of the
UK’s construction workforce were born outside of the UK, and it is a recurring concern across the built environment sector that excessive restrictions on immigration could jeopardise the delivery of the housing, infrastructure and construction projects the UK badly needs.” Natalie Elphicke, chief executive of The
Housing & Finance Institute, thought the Conservative manifesto provided the country “with a clear framework for building the homes the country needs.” In particular, she welcomed “pledges to
extend support for deprived coastal communities, and to proceed with more housing devolution.” Elphicke asserted that housebuilding is “most effectively co-ordinated” at a local level. “In awarding councils,” she continued,
referring particularly to areas outside of the big cities, “more power and money to meet their regional housing demands, we will be adopting an approach best placed to deliver the homes our country needs for the future.”
LABOUR While suffering a less than ideal start to his leadership, a late poll indicated that Corbyn has eroded the Conservative lead to just five points, possibly putting Labour back in the running. Labour’s manifesto gives a similarly high
profile to the housing crisis as its rivals, while painting an optimistic picture of the future of the sector. An NFB spokesperson said that despite this, the manifesto “regretfully lacks detail”. According to the trade body, despite clear efforts to deliver cultural
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Richard Beresford, CEO of the National Federation of Builders
Brian Berry, CEO of the FMB
“ CURRENTLY 17 PER CENT OF THE WORKFORCE WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE UK, AND IT IS A RECURRING CONCERN ACROSS THE SECTOR THAT EXCESSIVE RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRATION COULD JEOPARDISE THE DELIVERY OF THE PROJECTS THE UK
BADLY NEEDS” Lewis Johnston, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
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