“Technological change is coming – grasp it” – housing minister at HMI

Housing minister Kit Malthouse has warned housebuilders not to become “the Kodaks” of the industry, suggesting if there is not more innovation in the sector then firms could risk becoming obsolete.

Speaking about innovation in housebuilding at today’s Housing Market Intelligence conference in London, Malthouse said that on site “not much had changed since 1985”. “Technological change will come to this industry through MMC, offsite, changes in plumbing and electrical methods and robotic bricklayers,” he said. “Innovation is coming – I would urge you to grasp it. You cannot allow yourselves to become the Kodaks of housebuilding.” Film pioneer Kodak was perceived to be slow to recognise the impact of digital photography culminating in the firm filing for bankruptcy protection in the US in 2012.

Malthouse thanked the industry for doing “remarkably well” in increasing housing supply and outlined the government’s plans for building “more, better, faster”. He called on the industry to deliver, not just for commercial reasons, but because of a moral duty: “I hope future generations will look back at a golden age of housebuilding.”

In a morning of challenges to the industry, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable also said that the industry was lagging …