<p><span>The government must help SME housebuilders to reach the new energy requirements of the Future Homes Standard, according to Karl Hick, chairman of the Larkfleet Group. </span></p><p>Speaking at Larkfleet’s virtual conference, entitled <i>Covid-19 – meeting the challenges of housebuilding recovery,</i> Hick explained his company’s difficulties in delivering the energy saving initiatives of the FHS, due to be introduced in 2025. <br/></p><p>“This is a tricky one for me,” he told business leaders and industry professionals. “Larkfleet Homes is probably the most sustainable builder in the UK, but we struggle to deliver some of the environmental initiatives because sale values would not cover the additional costs. It is a complicated issue as housebuilders in some areas of the UK will be able to afford it, because of land and house values.” <br/></p><p><span> </span>Also speaking at the conference - tackling issues for SMEs and the wider industry - Andrew Lewer MBE, MP for Northampton South and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for SME Housebuilders, stated that SMEs needed “their own voice. We have 65 participants from all over the country coming to parliamentary meetings, so we are gathering a body of evidence from the people who are actually involved in delivering …