Investment to build more houses and to retrofit existing homes should be the Chancellor of the Exchequer's urgent task as he prepares for his Pre-Budget Report early next month, argues the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Richard Diment, Director-General of the FMB, said: "The best way to get Britain out of the recession is for the government to tackle the housing market both by building more homes and improving our existing ones to make them more energy efficient. Getting the housing market back on its feet is the key to get Britain building again as it would sustain the jobs of thousands of apprentices and tens of thousands of construction workers."
This year a record low of just over 90,000 new homes will be built compared to a target of 240,000 which is not only bad news for builders but bad for the five million people on social housing waiting lists.
Diment continued: "The Chancellor has the opportunity in his Pre-Budget Report to do something positive and provide the kick start that is needed to get Britain builders building again. Introducing new incentives to promote more housing providers to come into the housing market would be a welcome start as would specific financial incentives such as cutting VAT on property improvements to make them more energy efficient. Such measures would help kick-start the housing market which has a knock on effect in terms of creating jobs in the construction and manufacturing sectors as well as providing the homes that we desperately need."
(CD/KMcA)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
25/11/2024
Estilo Interiors has been selected to help Bruntwood SciTech as they invest a further £2.4 million into Birmingham as part of a plan to transform its Mclaren innovation hub. The project, located less than five minutes' walk from the future HS2 Curzon Street Station, will involve the building ...
25/11/2024
Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) has reached a significant milestone at Aylesborough Close in Arbury, with the completion of a topping-out ceremony. CIP board members, ward councillors, One Public Estate, Homes England and the CIP team gathered to lay the final brick at the highest point of ...
25/11/2024
Lovell has appointed Nicola Colley as head of land in the West Midlands, boosting the business' expertise in land opportunities. Having previously worked at Lovell for 12 years, Nicola has returned to a brand-new role at the national housebuilder, bringing with her experience from Taylor Wimpey ...
25/11/2024
Stepnell has commenced enabling works for a significant £9 million refurbishment of the Grade II listed Town Hall in Hugh Town, located on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly. Spearheaded by the Council of the Isles of Scilly in partnership with Scilly Arts & Heritage, the project marks a pivotal ...
25/11/2024
Morgan Sindall Construction has successfully completed the restoration of West Bromwich Town Hall and Library, restoring the significant building to its former glory for the community to enjoy. Prior to the project's handover, Morgan Sindall gave a presentation to the SMBC Members and Town ...
25/11/2024
Persimmon Homes Severn Valley has donated 10,000 bricks to AccXel, the Construction Skills Accelerator Centre in Cinderford. The contribution will enable students at the Gloucestershire-based facility to gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills for the construction industry. The ...
25/11/2024
Nearly a year after work began, significant progress is being made at Huddersfield station as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). This transformative project aims to modernise the key northern transport hub while preserving its rich heritage as a Grade I listed building. One of the ...
25/11/2024
Renovating a property can be a challenging and complex process, especially when integrating new and existing building elements. At R Elliott Associates Ltd, we specialise in helping clients navigate these challenges by providing expert planning, design, and support to pre-empt any potential ...
25/11/2024
Northumbrian Water has announced a significant investment of £3.5 million at its Great Ayton Sewage Treatment Works (STW) to enhance its capacity to manage stormwater. The project involves the installation of a new storm tank capable of holding up to 317 cubic meters of combined rainwater and ...
25/11/2024
Balfour Beatty Flannery, a partnership between Balfour Beatty and Flannery Plant Hire, has trained its 1,000th student at its Operator Skills Hub. With over 250,000 additional workers needed in the construction industry by 2028, Balfour Beatty Flannery's Operator Skills Hub is key in addressing ...