Industry figures have their say on today’s housing white paper
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB
“I’m pleased that the White Paper recognises the potential for SMEs to deliver far more homes than they do currently. In addition, it accurately identifies the key barriers to them doing so as land, planning and finance. Of these, finding small sites and then getting planning permission is the greatest single barrier.”
Kirstie Donnelly, Managing Director of City & Guilds
“The White Paper calls on industry to step up on training. In particular it’s absolutely crucial that there are strong links between employers and schools so that careers advice provides an up-to-date image of construction jobs, supported by work experience. Our research Great Expectations found that teenagers lack any real awareness of the many different career options within the construction industry. This is a major barrier to filling the skills gap.
Steve Radley, Director of Policy at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
“This White Paper has a range of sensible proposals which should help speed up the house building process and get small employers involved. Through the Home Building Skills Partnership we are working with the industry to make it easier for firms of all sizes to train and help home builders and their supply chains work together.”
Ian Burnett, chief executive of United Living
“With many people locked out of home ownership today, placing emphasis on affordable and secure rent is a smart choice. However, it is also the type of properties that we build over the next few years which will determine the success of Government’s revised housing strategy.”
Neil Brearley, founding director of Cast
“The government’s commitment to support elderly people looking to downsize can provide much needed relief to the housing market, freeing up existing housing stock. With the possibility of hundreds of thousands of extra homes being released, it is vital that effective frameworks of incentives are given to older people.”
Mark Farmer, CEO of Cast
“The central measures to better diversify tenure, especially through affordable housing and build to rent will drive a more resilient acyclical demand profile for the construction industry. It is critically important in my opinion that government has not only looked at increasing supply but is considering the physical means by which that will be delivered ensuring high quality construction.”
Martin Bellinger, chief operating officer at Essential Living, the first UK build to rent company
“Whatever ownership ambitions people have, the reality is that more people than ever are renting. Encouraging companies to build professionally managed rental communities will reduce the problem of rogue landlords and allow more homes to be built more quickly.”
Johnny Caddick, joint managing director of Moda Living, a build to rent developer and operator
“These measure will mean there’s far more scope for brownfield regeneration across our cities, catering to the very needs of urban dwellers.”
Kieran White, managing director at Vision Modular Systems
“Modular construction has huge potential to help deliver thousands of new homes more quickly. Today’s white paper emphasises the need to create capacity and we believe that offering stability and certainty to our industry is crucial if off-site manufacturing is to become a viable solution.”
Julian Goddard, head of residential at property consultancy Daniel Watney LLP
“The growing political support for build to rent will prove good news for renters over the long run but there is a pressing need for a rethink on how the government treats buy to let landlords, who continue to provide the overwhelming majority of rental homes.”