20 COMMENT
WE NEED TO IMPROVE PLANNING, THIS WILL COME AS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE, FROM LARGE SCALE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS RIGHT THROUGH TO MY MEMBERS
propose that planning teams receive increased funding based on performance, which would incentivise better and faster planning decisions.
But I also feel SMEs need that little bit more support; they are by no means technically less capable than their larger counterparts, but the administrative burden placed on small teams is substantial. A dedicated SME planning team per local authority would not only help grease the wheels of planning, but also support new entrants into the market, in what is currently a very hostile environment to fi nd yourself in for the fi rst time. We do need to look beyond resourcing. Planning teams need to communicate more effectively, bringing transparency and clarity to the process. Digitisation would help, which I’m glad to see is an element of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, albeit seemingly aimed at the public not the builder. This would
create a simpler, more transparent system for all involved, but it shouldn’t be used to give the loudest voices another platform to block new homes.
HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING FOR SME HOUSE BUILDERS?
House builders are being directly and indirectly affected by the economic circumstances we fi nd ourselves in. Issues with costs linked to changes in regulations and materials are causing a headache for local house builders, but other less obvious problems have sprung up, notably the lack of availability of mortgages. This was one of the top issues affecting house builders in the FMB’s House Builders Survey 2022 with 38% saying it’s holding back house building and 48% indicating this will get worse over the next three years.
Skills is another issue builders are having to contend with, and again was one of the top issues holding back
HBD LinkedIn QP_Golden QP 05/10/2021 09:36 Page 1 Meadfleet Wins Landscape Institute Award NowonLinkedIn
WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/SHOWCASE/ HOUSEBUILDER-DEVELOPER
Meadfleet Ltd were awarded the Landscape Institute’s Landscape Legacy Award in late 2022 for Sustainable Open Space Management. The award celebrates Meadfleet’s achievements in creating a sustainable legacy throughout the business and across its portfolio both in their work
to provide biodiverse open spaces and through community engagement and educational projects. David King, Managing Director of Meadfleet commented: “We are honoured to have received this prestigious award and thrilled the judges recognised our commitment to going beyond the usual scope of an open space management company.”
01438 890780
www.meadfleet.co.uk Changing climate of water conservation
HBD02_Meadfleet_PR.indd 1 10/02/2023 12:54
Minimising the environmental impact of homes is becoming a key issue. Groundbreaker Systems have been working on ‘green’ solutions for over 20 years. Groundbreaker water management system is uniquely designed to be installed at any time during
the construction period. Water services are connected to an externally mounted, pre-installed water service controls. The unique location of Groundbreaker facilitates an unjointed water supply, minimising the risk of developing future leaks. Fully compliant with Water Regulations, it provides an accessible, safe and secure location for the water meter. Groundbreaker is particularly suited to modular build projects, where pre-installation and certification can facilitate early approval of water services to a plot.
01379 741993
www.groundbreaker.co.uk WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK _Filler.indd 1 20/02/2023 11:57
house building in our annual survey. In the March Budget, the Government should use it as an opportunity to demonstrate its intention to tackle the skills crisis. Construction is not alone in struggling to hire new staff. There needs to be a comprehensive UK skills strategy, which helps roadmap how industry can work with the Government to plug the skills gap.
LOOKING AHEAD
It is not an easy time to be a small, local house builder. There is an ever- growing list of issues adding to the cost of building a home, everything from biodiversity net gain to energy effi ciency measures. None of this is unwanted by the industry, it welcomes moves to green our environment, but it’s all adding up, not only monetarily, but administratively. SMEs need to be better supported to deliver these changes and I implore the Government to do so.
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