NHBC Foundation launches report on importance of quality

The NHBC Foundation has highlighted the importance of maintaining quality during the planning and build process as the sector aims to ramp up new homes production, in a new report.

In the publication - Maintaining quality in the design and construction of 1.5 million homes – the NHBC Foundation states that the historic link between increased volume and a reduction in quality “must be broken”.

The report was informed by a roundtable the Foundation held in January 2025 involving 16 industry stakeholders from 12 sector-leading companies and organisations. The participants of the meeting identified positive recommendations for the industry and government to ensure good quality is achieved and maintained in the design and construction of new homes.

At the same time, the NHBC Foundation has recognised that the concept and definition of quality is subjective, encompassing different aspects. These include:

• Perceived quality – the quality of finishes, aesthetics and materials used
• In-built quality – structural and technical details
• Design quality – the overall design of a home and how well it functions
• Fundamental quality – achieving compliance with minimum standards
• Transactional quality – the service provided through the purchasing process.

“While this report focuses …