UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
22/11/2012
FMB Calls For Govt To Promote Small Development Sites
The Government needs to do more to help encourage the development of small and micro sites that exist in every town and city if it wants to tackle the housing problem, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to today's housing announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister.
FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry said: "While the Deputy Prime Minister's support for major housing projects is very welcome they take time to bring forward. If the Government wants quick results it needs to provide more immediate assistance to the large number of dormant SME house builders who could mobilise quickly to deliver housing jobs and growth on much shorter timescales.
"The last time we built over 200,000 homes in England was in the late 1980s when SME house builders delivered over two thirds of our housing. Since then the number of smaller house builders has declined by 69% and they now deliver only around one third of our housing."
Mr Berry concluded: "It is very difficult for Government to directly support projects on small sites, but it could be doing more to help speed up its deregulatory agenda to help reduce the burden on house builders. It must start by making a commitment not to impose any new burdens on the house building sector, as well as committing to addressing the excessive requirements for information and contributions demanded by the planning system. Above all, the Government must ensure that schemes such as Funding for Lending and the new £225m fund for stalled projects will make finance available to SME developers."
(CD)
FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry said: "While the Deputy Prime Minister's support for major housing projects is very welcome they take time to bring forward. If the Government wants quick results it needs to provide more immediate assistance to the large number of dormant SME house builders who could mobilise quickly to deliver housing jobs and growth on much shorter timescales.
-- Advertisement --
"The last time we built over 200,000 homes in England was in the late 1980s when SME house builders delivered over two thirds of our housing. Since then the number of smaller house builders has declined by 69% and they now deliver only around one third of our housing."
Mr Berry concluded: "It is very difficult for Government to directly support projects on small sites, but it could be doing more to help speed up its deregulatory agenda to help reduce the burden on house builders. It must start by making a commitment not to impose any new burdens on the house building sector, as well as committing to addressing the excessive requirements for information and contributions demanded by the planning system. Above all, the Government must ensure that schemes such as Funding for Lending and the new £225m fund for stalled projects will make finance available to SME developers."
(CD)
Latest Construction News
29/01/2025
Caddick Construction has been awarded a £43 million contract to deliver the first phase of Cole Waterhouse's flagship regeneration scheme in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The project, known as Upper Trinity Street, marks a significant step in the area’s transformation.
Spanning 182,986 square feet, the re
29/01/2025
McLaren Construction has been appointed by O&H Properties to deliver the first phase of a £60 million Foster & Partners-designed development at the corner of New Bond Street and Grafton Street in London’s West End.
The seven-storey, 5,400 square metre prime retail and office scheme will feature ret
29/01/2025
GMI Construction Group has been awarded a contract to develop three high-specification warehouse units totalling over 175,000 square feet at Precedent Drive, Milton Keynes.
The £20 million project, commissioned by DV5 Last Mile Developments (UK) Ltd, a joint venture between Coltham and Delancey Re
29/01/2025
Plans for 106 sustainable new homes in Southville, a neighbourhood in South Bristol, have been approved as the city seeks to increase housing delivery to address growing demand.
Top 10 award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group will create a £60 million development on Raleigh Road, on land that was
29/01/2025
Bouygues UK has reached a major milestone in the fourth phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project in Canning Town, London.
The project, part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme, recently held a topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the 11-s
29/01/2025
Willmott Dixon Interiors is carrying out a significant upgrade to the roof of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, one of London's most iconic cultural landmarks.
As part of the £12 million project, the company is installing over 23,000 square feet of sun-protected glazing above the museum’s
29/01/2025
Equans has been appointed by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to carry out crucial decarbonisation work across the councils' housing stock, using funding secured through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The councils used the South East Consortium's Zero Carbon Framework to s
29/01/2025
In the world of construction, the quest for energy efficiency and sustainability is ever-evolving. Among the array of solutions available, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation stands out as a versatile and effective option for enhancing the thermal performance of buildings, particularly when used f
29/01/2025
BCP Council has completed significant coastal protection works at Hamworthy Park, ensuring its resilience against erosion for the next 20 years.
A 200-metre stretch of sea wall along the eastern promenade has been reinforced using low-carbon concrete, while new steps have been constructed to improv
29/01/2025
Geo-environmental consultancy and remediation contractor, The LK Group, has strengthened its team with a trio of recruits.
The multidisciplinary company's latest raft of hires comprises a new director, associate director and remediation manager.
The geo-environmental specialist, headquartered i
