‘SMEs should be harnessed to help build 1.5 million new homes’ if Labour is elected

Smaller house builders must be part of the push to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years if Labour is elected, according to representatives from the construction industry.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told party conference delegates they would ‘bulldoze’ the planning system and harness development corporations to build new towns across England.

He commented: “There is one barrier so big, so imposing that it blocks out all light from the other side. A blockage that stops this country building roads, grid connections, laboratories, train lines, warehouses, wind farms, power stations.

“An obstacle to the aspirations of millions, now and in the future, who deserve the security of home ownership. A future hidden by our restrictive planning system… We must bulldoze through it.”

The Federation of Master Builders, FMB, has backed Sir Keir’s announcement on new settlements to promote regional growth but said local builders must be part of the process.

FMB chief executive Brian Berry said: “By bringing SMEs on board with new town development this will ensure high quality and diverse housing is delivered, while also creating wider benefits, like vocational skills opportunities.”

The National Federation of Builders, NFB, agreed and said development corporations were the ‘perfect mechanism’ to deliver this. It also wants large sites, where 100 or more homes are planned, to be subdivided by 20 to 30 builders.

Sir Keir also spoke about challenging the use of the green belt in certain circumstances to get Britain building again, adding: “Where there are clearly ridiculous uses of it, disused car parks, dreary wasteland. Not a green belt. A grey belt. Sometimes with a city’s boundary. Then this cannot be justified as a reason to hold our future back.

The building industry and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RICS, support the Labour Party leader’s pledge to reform local planning laws to make it easier to develop land. RICS has called for an evidence-led review of the green belt looking at ‘brownfield’ and ‘grey field’ sites.

Brian continued: “It’s encouraging that Labour is tackling the emotive issue of the green belt, with the so-called ‘grey belt’ which has restricted sensible and sustainable development for too long.”

NFB housing and planning head Rico Wojtulewicz added: “We need to assess the green belt. It is supposed to stop urban sprawl, not just any green area you want to protect.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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