The Home Builders Federation has used its submission to next week’s Budget to request measures to help boost the delivery of much needed housing by introducing a package of measures to move sites more quickly through the development process and give a shot in the arm to small house builders.
HBF has called on Government to do more to accelerate delivery of homes stuck in the planning system and allow house builders to build more quickly so that the industry can build on the significant increases in supply seen in recent months.
In its submission to the Treasury, HBF asks the Chancellor to focus on:
- Driving further improvements to the end-to-end planning process
- Ensuring that planning authorities are equipped to deal with increased demand
- Securing a long-term supply of land that can be built out more quickly and is accessible for local and regional house builders
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said: "Recent months have seen a significant increase in house building activity. However we are still way short of building the number of homes the country needs and developers are frustrated by the delays preventing a faster increase in output. If we are to increase supply Government needs to work with the industry to develop policies that will allow house builders large and small to deliver. We need a streamlining of the planning system such that it delivers enough land in the right places more quickly.
House building doesn’t just provide homes and new communities, it also brings unrivalled economic and social benefits in local areas and beyond. Solving the housing crisis won’t just help those in need of a home, it will also boost the national economy and create tens of thousands of new jobs.”