Industry needs commitment from Government to build more homes, says FMB

THE FALL IN construction activity acerbated by the drop in housing activity signals the need for the Government to give a clear commitment to building new homes, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the latest data from S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction PMI.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “Small, local housebuilders are struggling in a market that has seen the fastest decline in residential construction since May 2020, which was when the country was gripped by the Covid pandemic. At a time when we need to be building more homes we are moving in the opposite direction and building fewer. There is a whole generation of people who can’t get on the housing ladder, which is holding back growth and investment. While it might be politically easy to shelve housing commitments to gain votes in some areas, the Government must recommit to their annual housing target of 300,000 homes.”

Berry concluded: “I’m concerned that the Government lacks a clear plan to solve the housing crisis, resulting in overcrowding and increasingly unaffordable rents as more cling on to rental properties as the new housing market shrinks. While there are long term issues to solve with the planning system, the Government needs to take the bull by the horns and restate its ambition to build new homes.”

New Space4 timber frame factory gets the go-ahead

APPROVAL has been granted by Charnwood Borough Council for the creation of a new Space4 timber frame factory – believed to be the biggest in the UK – on the edge of Loughborough.

Following approval from Charnwood Borough Council on 22 June 2023, the state-of-the-art facility will bring up to 120 new jobs to Loughborough and the surrounding areas, whilst also utilising the latest automation technology as part of the manufacturing process. The factory will produce timber frame units for up to 7,000 homes a year and is set to be in full operation towards the end of 2025.

Consultants

The new Space4 facility will be placed on the Garendon Park Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), a community of over 3,000 homes on the Garendon Park estate. Across the whole of the SUE, a cumulative figure of over £43m will be paid to support local infrastructure delivery and ensure economic development.

I went to a pub quiz last night. I could tell it was a rough place when the first question was “What are you looking at?”

Bit surprised by the free printer I got with my new computer. He’s called Arthur and he’s worked in newspapers for 14 years.

Construction Consultants