This event is being held in partnership with EDAROTH.
Event description:
The UK is unusual in relying on a small number of large organisations to deliver most of its housing. The share of new homes delivered by SMEs declined from 39% of new homes in 1988 to 10% in 2020, while across Europe large numbers of homes are built by small builders, co-operatives or even using self-build techniques.
Despite strong political consensus on the need to increase supply, new entrants, particularly those deploying modern methods of construction (MMC) or innovative delivery models continue to face significant barriers. These include limited access to land, constrained funding, grant systems favouring incumbent players, and planning processes that do not adapt well to non-traditional approaches.
Achieving a robust and future-ready housing pipeline will require a more diverse and dynamic market. This includes embracing MMC, supporting SMEs, social housing by local authorities/public sector and housing associations. This will be critical to delivering scale, quality, and sustainability.
This event will explore the following questions:
- What can the Government do to unlock the potential of SMEs and Innovation?
- How can Government promote innovation and open-up the housing market to new entrants?
- What funding certainty do SMEs, housing associations and councils need to derisk housing delivery? – How do they get the opp?
- How can planning reforms through legislation, the NPPF, and regional and local plans, encourage housebuilding from smaller organisations and innovative approaches such as MMC?
- How can innovations such as modern methods of construction lower the barrier to entry to smaller builders?
Format:
The event will begin with 5-7 minute contributions from the panellists, followed by some questions from the chair, and a short Q&A from the audience, collected in batches of three. The event will finish promptly at 16:30.
Also invited to the panel are:
- Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing (Invited)
- Sarah Edwards MP, Chair of the APPG for SME Builders
- Mark Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis
- Mark Powell, Chief Executive of EDAROTH
The event will be chaired by Andy Bates, LHG Policy Officer
