BMF rallying call in Parliament to get Britain building

Builders merchants trade association the Builders Merchants Federation is urging the government to introduce targeted measures to galvanise the market and tackle the malaise in the housebuilding sector.

The rallying call was made at the organisation’s annual Parliamentary Reception, where attending MPs included The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Chris Curtis, Co-Chair of the Labour Growth Group, The Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Andrew Griffith, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade. All were told of the significant pressures affecting the industry and why urgent action is needed.

BMF CEO, John Newcomb, described  how the  Government’s flagship housing commitment has been hampered by planning capacity issues, regulatory delays like nutrient neutrality, insufficient skilled workers, and, most notably, weak consumer confidence. He said: “Fresh momentum is essential to deliver new homes of all types and tenures, built to higher standards, and affordable for people to buy or rent. The Planning and Infrastructure Act, which recently became law, should help unlock stalled projects in the medium term – but that might be too late.

“Young people, in particular, face increasing difficulties in getting onto the property ladder. Yet, for the first time in over 60 years, there is a noticeable absence of government support for first-time buyers, which has heightened frustration among aspiring homeowners. We urge the Government to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the housing market, particularly for first-time buyers, through targeted stimulus measures, such as the Freedom to Buy concept proposed by the Home Builders Federation.

“After three years of market stagnation, building products manufacturers need to be confident that the tide is now turning before pressing the go button. There is a clear link between brick sales and house building. In 2022, when more than 243,000 new homes were built, 2.5 billion bricks were sold. By 2025, with just 201,000 homes built, brick sales had fallen to 1.8 billion, a 26% decline. Support for aspiring homeowners would send a clear signal to our members to have the products ready to get Britain building again.”