6 INDUSTRY NEWS
change in housebuilding and construction, Labour has failed to identify the main obstacles to growth for SMEs. The NFB was however “delighted”
at Labour’s ambition to make public procurement fairer, tackling “the scourge of late payment” across supply chains. Both the NFB and the House Builders
Association were disappointed that the Labour manifesto failed to tackle reform of the planning process. “The planning system is a major barrier to
growth for many construction businesses,” a spokesperson said. “While agreeing that planning authorities have experienced debilitating budget cuts, under-resourcing is not the main factor stifling the UK’s housing supply.” Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB,
responded more favourably to Labour’s manifesto, agreeing that the party’s proposal to link up housing and skills policy would be the “right approach” post-Brexit. Berry commented: “Jeremy Corbyn has
said that freedom of movement would end under a Labour government, and it is therefore right that the party has a clear plan to build the homes we need and train the people we need to build them.” He said it was a “strength” of the
manifesto that it features “such a clear focus” on apprenticeships and high quality
training. “The commitment to doubling the number of NVQ Level 3 apprenticeships by 2020 will be well-received by small construction firms.” It was not all praise, however. “While
Labour’s ambitious targets on house- building, to be delivered partly through its National Transformation Fund, are welcome,” Berry argued, “there is little to address the fundamental issue of industry capacity.” “Whichever party is in government
after the general election, a council housebuilding programme would be a catalyst to boost the capacity of the SME housebuilding sector,” he concluded. Gwyn Roberts, Home Quality Mark
project leader and Homes and Communities team leader at BRE, also gave cautious praise: “By way of example, the Labour Party has recently pledged to build one million new homes during the next five years,” commented Roberts. This is “all well and good,” he
continued, “but there has been no commitment given to the quality of these homes and the viability of delivering quality homes and communities,”soliciting parties to keep seeking quality improvements in both the built environment, and in people’s lives.
“Major faults” in over half of England’s new-builds
Research has revealed that 51 per cent of new build homes across England have experienced ‘major’ faults. Conducted by YouGov for the housing
charity Shelter, the survey found that 51 per cent of homeowners reported experiences of major problems with construction, utility faults and poorly or unfinished furnishings. Figures were published alongside a
Shelter report, entitled New Civic Housebuilding, with 4,341 UK adults taking part in the YouGov online survey. Shelter concluded in its report that the
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