4 INDUSTRY NEWS


FROM THE EDITOR


James Parker


Are you aware of the New Homes Quality Code, supposedly a better, more robust code of practice for homebuyers, which has replaced the failed Consumer Code for Home Builders? If not, that may illustrate one of the problems, i.e. its voluntary nature meaning that it hasn’t been seen as a must-do across the sector. There is a self-selecting aspect to changing onsite practices this way, although the Code is established by the central body the New Homes Quality Board, and enforced by the independent New Homes Ombudsman Service. It is a fundamental cog in the new era of quality the Government is trying to user in, post- Grenfell, and now post-Future Homes Standard.


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The Ombudsman, as represented by ex-HSBC man Nigel Cates and established three years ago, only covers around 60% of the new build market. But he reported at a recent Parliamentary Committee meeting that the body is now “getting around 200 complaints per month.” So at least awareness of the body as a repository of snags on new builds is beginning to take hold among customers, But the builders signing up might be those more interested in getting it right fi rst time, so may not represent quality levels across the board.


Cates said that one of the main issues behind the physical defects being reported was “breakdowns in communication,” but also cited a wider problem that “substantial numbers” of SMEs were not signing up to the Code. With the industry undergoing one of its toughest times currently, it’s hard to see how large numbers will volunteer for further sticks to be hit with. At the Committee, Chloe Fletcher of the Chartered Institute of Housing said the Code needs to be statutory, and also needs to cover all types of new homes, as currently there are several loopholes.


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Legacy Properties focused on providing a strong sense of place to blend its new 24-home scheme in Cornwall seamlessly with its rural village surroundings – while offering high quality living


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I wouldn’t like to generalise, but is there a chance that more women coming into the industry could mean greater rigour onsite? For example, a greater focus on attention to detail, and less value engineering at the expense of quality, or perhaps I’m being overly optimistic. The slow move to offsite approaches, and more precise, factory-oriented delivery is another potential lever to see this potential demographic change coming to fruition, albeit one itself hampered by the culture change issues.


But to support a major move to more gender equality, for the good of quality builds as well as the industry in general, several other pieces need to move. For example, work-life balance with better childcare support for both parents, enforcing equal pay, and a commitment to eradicate the ‘macho’ culture of the past.


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As skills continue to vie with cost and planning as the biggest issues in the sector, it’s fantastic to see a Scottish apprenticeships endeavour really gaining traction with female recruits to the sector. lasgow-based construction fi rm ity uilding has harnessed the power of apps (in this case jobs app yattle) to help achieve a 116% increase in women among its record-breaking 980 applications for apprenticeships. May this be a sign of things to come across the industry, to build a long-needed bridge across the gender gap – which remains colossal – with practical roles still 99% men in the sector. There’s still a long way to go.


James Parker


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