<p>HBF is calling upon the government to introduce extra measures to help housebuilders through the coronavirus crisis.</p> <p>As well as talking with the government about how its members can access recently announced financial schemes, HBF is asking ministers to extend existing planning permissions by 12 months, defer the payment of planning obligations and clarify the status of business rates for show homes and council tax on unoccupied homes which cannot currently be sold.</p> <p>In a letter to the housing secretary Robert Jenrick, Stewart Baseley, HBF’s executive chairman, set out HBF’s wishes on planning consents and payment deferrals, pointing out that allowing planning permissions to lapse would increase risks for developers and “place unnecessary additional burdens on local planning authorities having to re-do work that has already been done.”</p> <p>And deferring section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments would aid housebuilders’ cashflow, Baseley explained – “a critical consideration in a time when cash generation through sales is extremely difficult.”</p> <p><span>Looking ahead to a recovery, HBF is also working on how the government could help the industry return to economic strength and swiftly ratchet up activity. “</span><span>Housebuilding can play a key part in helping the UK’s long-term recovery by generating benefits …