02/05/2025
The UK Government is considering some significant amendments to building regulations which will impact BWF Members and the wider woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry. A consultation of ...
In a bid to increase housebuilding in the UK, Government has launched another Cutting Red Tape review aimed at uncovering the issues that have the biggest effect on housebuilders and seeking the views of smaller firms to understand the unique pressures they are under.
The government says it wants a million homes built in England by 2020. The National Housing Federation estimated 974,000 homes were needed between 2011 and 2014, however figures from 326 councils showed only 457,490 were built. The federation said about 245,000 new homes were needed each year in England.
The key starting points for the review are based on the priorities raised by the Housing Implementation Task Force:
– roads and infrastructure rules for new housing developments
– environmental requirements, particularly EU rules such as the Habitats Directive and wider EU environmental permit requirements
– rules that affect utilities (such as electricity, gas and water – as well as broadband infrastructure)
The government is also keen to look at the changes made to the Construction, Design and Management Regulations, as well as any examples of EU rules that are being implemented too strictly.
The UK has seen the number of houses built by developers fall from around 190,000 in 2007-8, to around 112,000 in 2013-4
It is hoped that the wide-ranging review will capture the experiences of all those involved in building homes, including developers, planners and trade associations. The evidence gathering phase of the review will close on 13 January 2016. BWF members can respond directly or send their views through to matthew.mahony@bwf.org.uk
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“This review will give housebuilders and smaller construction businesses a powerful voice as part of our £10 billion deregulation drive. Where rules are too complicated, ineffective or poorly enforced, I want to hear about it and the government will take action. Together we can cut red tape and get Britain building.”
John Allan, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said:
“In the 1980s, smaller house builders delivered around two thirds of our new homes. Today, it is less than a third. If the government can encourage small firms back into house building, that would be a major step towards meeting this country’s housing needs.”
The previous Housing and Construction Red Tape Challenge led to a review of local housing standards. This Housing Standards Review made major concessions to housebuilders and gave the joinery sector additional requirements such as those set out in Part Q of the Building Regulations. Some of the regulations were simplified although the review conclusions received some criticism for undermining the drive towards more sustainable and low Carbon materials. The merits of the review in terms of increased housebuilding are yet to be seen.
The new Cutting Red Tape review will look at the way the law is enforced, as well as whether the rules themselves are proportionate and fit for purpose.
The BWF is generally supportive of measures to increase housebuilding as these would boost the market for many of the high quality timber products and services provided by our members. But even given the newest technologies, offsite manufacturing and fast-tracked planning, the nation cannot benefit from a boost in homebuilding when our physical capacity risks being constrained by a widening skills gap.
