The construction industry has responded to ‘ambitious plans’ laid out by the Government in the King’s Speech,.
Among the aims laid out by the Government are plans to reform the planning systems and an increase in house building country-wide.
Federation of Master Builders
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “It is positive that the new Government has already made tackling the UK’s housing crisis a key priority. For too long we’ve under delivered on housing delivery and pushed out smaller house builders from the market. However, these bold plans will only be successful if the current skills crisis in the construction industry is addressed. We are substantially lacking the skilled workers required to build new homes, and to upgrade our existing homes with the energy efficiency improvements which Labour have pledged. The UK is in desperate need of a long-term skills plan, to establish clear pathways into careers in construction. Unless this is delivered it is difficult to see how 1.5 million new homes will be built over the next five years.
“One startling omission is the lack of plans to upgrade the existing housing stock. We had been expecting to see a bold plan to retrofit five million homes to make them greener and more energy efficient but clearly the purse strings have not been opened enough to allow for this. While we should be looking to build more homes we mustn’t take our eye of the existing housing stock, which is the oldest and leakiest in Europe.”
Royal Town Planning Institute
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), said: “The government has laid the groundwork for achieving its housing and infrastructure ambitions by setting plans to increase the capacity of local planning authorities. We believe that these measures will not only restore trust in the planning system but also demonstrate that with sufficient resources, the planning system can effectively create spaces where communities can thrive.
“It is essential for planners to make a significant impact within the government’s first parliamentary term. To achieve this, measures such as ringfencing resources, allowing councils to set their own fees at an appropriate level for their area, and enabling full cost recovery for their services need to be implemented quickly.”
On modernising planning committees: “The Institute believes planning committees need modernisation and could include a national scheme of delegation, allowing planning officers to make some decisions themselves. Qualified planners should be able to implement agreed planning policy, freeing up councillors’ time to focus on the most challenging planning cases. This change would help to unblock many applications and speed up the planning process.”
“The RTPI will also be considering how our experiences running the Politicians in Planning network (PiPN) can inform any new training for politicians on planning committees. We will also examine how the hybrid or virtual planning committee models, which we successfully advocated for, can help to open up the planning process to a more diverse and inclusive range of people.”
On Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: “We have repeatedly emphasised the importance of clearer, more spatial and up-to-date national infrastructure policy to speed up project delivery and clarify where projects should be delivered. This involves updating our National Infrastructure Strategy and requiring National Policy Statements to be reviewed at least every 5 years.”
On devolution: “We have long called for metro mayors to have strategic planning powers. We welcome today’s announcements as an essential step in ensuring that the new housing developments are well located and well integrated with industrial strategy, to deliver the billions in economic growth that our research has shown is possible. We believe it will not only enhance cooperation across housing market areas and diminish local political obstacles, but provide certainty to investors.”
Wienerberger UK
Rachel Hughes, marketing director at Wienerberger UK and Ireland said: “The government’s commitment to “get Britain building” by reforming planning procedures marks a pivotal moment for the housing and construction industry. At Wienerberger, we welcome this renewed focus on accelerating housebuilding nationwide. While the King’s Speech did not provide specific details on how the government intends to “turbocharge” housebuilding through these reforms, its prominent inclusion in the agenda signifies a proactive approach.
“The introduction of Skills England is particularly noteworthy. By fostering collaboration among the government, businesses, unions, and training providers, this initiative aims to cultivate a skilled workforce tailored to the needs of our evolving industry. With employers at the heart of this partnership, we can hope for a more robust pipeline of talent ready to drive innovation and excellence in housebuilding.
“The King’s emphasis on “sustainable growth” and investment in industry, skills, and new technologies aligns perfectly with Wienerberger’s commitment to sustainable construction practices. It is heartening to see this priority reflected at the highest levels of government.
“We look forward to collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to achieve these goals, ensuring that the UK meets its housing needs while promoting economic and environmental well-being.”
To read the King’s Speech in full, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-kings-speech-2024
