4 INDUSTRY NEWS


HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER


Joint Publisher Anthony Parker


James Parker


FROM THE EDITOR


A blog post from a leading tools supplier caught my eye this month, as it unashamedly laid out the concerns of the construction sector when it comes to the looming Brexit deadline, which is fittingly on Halloween.


Des Duddy, director of Protrade, says that company bosses of the tens of thousands of organisations in our industry are in a very uncomfortable situation, that of “making a number of assumptions and provisions based on the comments and posturing of our Prime Minister.” He says, with some understatement, that “it’s difficult to know whether certain comments and news are an expectation of reality.” It feels as if there is a large amount of denial going on at no. 10 around the potential impact of the increasingly likely outcome of a no deal Brexit, and the fact Ministers had to be forced to reveal Operation Yellowhammer findings speaks volumes.


As ever, clarity is in short supply. As Duddy says, everyone is forced to have to prepare for multiple scenarios – “essentially, preparing for the unknown.” By its nature, this is very hard to do with any real rigour, and surely impossible to cost with any certainty. The only certainty, Duddy suggests, “is that no segment of the industry will come out unscathed”.


ON THE COVER


The Climate Challenge: Taking stock of the impacts of climate change on the industry


09.19


HOUSEBUILDER & DEVELOPER


Cardiff Council’s first modular housing programme with Wates Residential gets the green light


The Industry


Advocate: Berry says Government needs to go carefully with New Homes Ombudsman


It’s not just confusion around whether we will be facing a deal or no deal, but also about the likely exacerbation of already keenly felt problems across the industry. These are well known, however to what extent Brexit will make them worse is hard to predict.


Ending freedom of movement means that the UK could lose around 200,000 construction workers, and we are already in a skills crisis, with one in five roles currently left unfilled. Losing EU workers will push up staffing costs, as Duddy says, it’s simply supply and demand. And with the UK importing over 25 per cent of its materials, it’s widely accepted not only that tariffs will drive up costs further, but that delivery times will also be compromised – companies will have to drastically change the way they plan work.


When times are challenging enough for many SME housebuilders, having to scenario plan for various Brexit outcomes is not something most will be doing with enthusiasm. This is particularly the case when they are repeatedly being told by the PM that a deal is being sought.


A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP


The former US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair is transformed into the ultimate London pads by Lodha Group, Eric Parry Architects and interior designers Yabu Pushelberg


Lodha, No.1 Grosvenor Square go to page 24


WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK


It remains to be seen whether Boris Johnson will be the person to take us over the cliff with no deal – as ever we are waiting for the true scenario to be revealed. But in the meantime, how much firms can work to protect themselves from an uncertain future is debatable.


James Parker


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