Welcoming incoming Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s commitment to deliver “stability and confidence”, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) argues the government’s new agenda must strengthen small builders’ ability to contribute to growth and support jobs right across the UK.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “Rishi Sunak’s premiership must bring to an end to the turmoil of recent economic and political events, and deliver stability and confidence for small, local builders. These firms, operating in towns and villages right across the UK, are ideally placed to be at the heart of levelling up, helping to create and support jobs, and contribute to growth and productivity.
“But builders will only manage this if consumers can afford to get work done on their homes. So inflation, interest rate hikes and recent shocks to mortgage rates must be countered by policies that help keep Britain building. With the crisis of energy bills an urgent item in Sunak’s in-tray, I hope he will honour commitments to home energy efficiency made in the 2019 manifesto, and realise the potential of a long-term retrofit strategy to help cut bills, reduce energy demand, and keep builders busy.”
Berry concluded: “The new government must also maintain its commitment to planning reforms to make it easier for small house builders to build high quality homes in areas that people want them, and be cautious of the impact of possible cuts to come on a planning system already struggling to deliver.”
www.fmb.org.uk
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