90% of SMEs unhappy with govt’s housing policies

A new industry report published today reveals the full extent of the challenges and problems currently facing SME housebuilders.

The SME State of Play Report, which comes at a time of planning delays, a housing moratorium, the growing regulatory burden, an increasing cost base and a tough market, reveals how this is impacting smaller housebuilders.

The report, published by HBF in partnership with Close Brothers and Travis Perkins, finds that:

* 92% of SMEs are unhappy with the government’s current approach on housing and call on ministers to act to prevent a fall in new home supply

* 93% say securing and processing planning permission to the point where construction work can start is the major barrier to growth

* The availability of land is a major issue for 52% of SME builders

* 76% say local authority staffing shortages are the main cause of delays in the process

* Rising materials (99%) and energy (88%) costs are a major concern for companies

* More than two-thirds are impacted by the “nutrients” issue that is restricting development in more than a quarter of England’s local authority areas.

It is the third iteration of the report and …