FMB calls for red tape cuts

Moves to cut red tape by streamlining housing standards would be a major boost to Britain’s small and medium-sized house builders, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
Responding to the government’s newly launched Housing Standards Review consultation process, FMB believe the cuts would help to increase the supply and choice of new homes needed to address the growing housing crisis.

“It is essential we continue to bear down on unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy, to encourage more SME developers to bring new homes to market,” said Beatrice Orchard, head of communications at the FMB. “SME builders are vital if we are going to address the spiralling housing deficit, and help people get a foot on the property ladder and prevent them from having to move away from their families and places of work because of rising house prices.”

FMB believes that clearer and more consistent national standards would be a huge improvement on the current system. The trade association would also welcome steps to incorporate any nationally described standards proposed by the review into Building Regulations in future.

“The FMB is consulting with members on how to improve the supply of new homes in the UK, and will be responding to this consultation from the perspective of SMEs,” said Orchard. “One concern already identified is the suggestion that local authorities might be allowed to set minimum space standards, as this is already best regulated by developers responding intuitively to local demand.”