SMEs cite planning as major threat to housing delivery over next 12 months

A survey of smaller housebuilders has found that 94% see delays in securing planning permission or discharging conditions as a major barrier to increasing housing delivery. The firms also worry that with elections due in 2022, the situation is set to worsen.

The survey conducted by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), Close Brothers Property Finance and Travis Perkins also found that 78% of housebuilders see the supply and cost of materials as a major barrier to delivery - up from just 20% from last year, while 59% see the supply and cost of labour as a major barrier (up from 19% last year)

The survey, now in its second year, takes a deeper look at how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape for housing delivery via SMEs and includes an in-depth focus group this year, which drills down into the key findings from the survey.

Stewart Baseley, HBF executive chairman, said: “Recent decades has seen a collapse in SME builders’ numbers and the survey shows the considerable challenges the sector continues to face. Every single SME I speak to is suffering badly from delays to the planning process. SMEs are literally having to put their businesses on hold whilst local authorities …