18 COMMENT
THE NEED FOR NEW SUPPORT IN 2023
Brian Berry
Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), discusses what the Government needs to do to deliver new homes plus extra support for SMEs this year.
I’M GLAD TO SAY THAT FMB MEMBERS HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT FACE TO FACE WITH THE HOUSING MINISTER
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e closed out 2022 with a very shaky end to proceedings, with the aftershock from the short-lived Truss administration still rumbling on. However, the signs of normality have started to creep back in and engagement with the government on housing issues is ramping up as they look to deliver much needed new homes. The Government needs to keep this momentum up, as small, local house builders are facing increased costs and complexity from every angle. I just hope that the political will is there to get housing back on track and to reform the beleaguered planning system.
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WE NEED ACTION We need to improve planning, this will come as no surprise to anyone, from large scale commercial developers right through to my members, small local house builders, it’s just not working. I’m glad to say that FMB members had a chance to sit face to face with the previous Housing Minister, Lucy Frazer, and put forward their concerns, so I hope that
this turns into action. Ultimately, the UK needs more homes and I’m with the Government when they say homes need to be quality, diverse, and built with the community in mind. This is bread and butter for SME housebuilders as they are part of their community and consistently build quality homes for their local areas, so let’s back them.
PLANNING NEEDS REFORM AND FUNDING You can’t go to any forum in the building industry and be far from a conversation on planning. It is a problem that is not going to go away without political will power and bluntly, money. However, with a Budget coming in March, we fi nd the purse strings of the Treasury very tight at a time when planning departments are underfunded, understaffed, and struggling to hire new staff – who are often poached by the private sector. However, needing more funding, can’t be an excuse for carte blanche spending, planning departments would need to show they are unblocking the planning system. I would
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