FMB worries government's housing building targets won't include small builders
Posted: Wednesday, November 13th, 2024
While the new house-building target of 1.5 million homes over the next five years sounds promising, Brian Berry, chief executive of FMB, questions whether local house builders will get enough of a share. Brian believes the housing target is a tall order. "The last time we built 300,000 homes a year was in 1969-70. We've only built 250,000 new homes a year, at best." Last year, only 150,000 new homes were constructed, which is half the target. "The government must concentrate on planning reforms to make it easier and pro-development," he argues. The good news is that bricklayers nationwide can access much more work. However, the UK is facing an acute shortage of brickies. "All the trades are in short supply, but bricklaying is in the top five of the shortage list. "40% of our members say they struggle to recruit brickies. We need to cultivate more homegrown talent. I'm encouraged by the fact the government is setting up Skills England," he says. The body aims to unite the skills landscape and create a shared national ambition to boost the nation’s skills in the long term. He concludes: "We need to ensure a lot of emphasis is on vocational training. Too much is being placed on higher education."
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