While the Labour Government’s aspiration to construct 1.5 million homes over the next half-decade has been welcomed, achieving this feat will remain a distant dream without the vital input of small construction firms, asserts the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently delivered a stirring speech, vowing to overhaul the housebuilding framework, rejuvenate dormant projects, and essentially, get Britain "building again." Reacting to this, Tina McKenzie, the policy chair at FSB, emphasized, "Small housebuilders are the key to achieving ambitious housebuilding targets."

McKenzie continued, stressing the necessity of a strategic shift: "It’s integral that a Small Housebuilders Strategy is created to put small businesses front and centre of decision-making, so the builders who have had the hardest time in recent decades can deliver the outcomes the new Government seeks."

"We hope this will be the start of a renewed focus on getting Britain building again," she remarked, underlining the importance of follow-through from the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. McKenzie further highlighted, "We hope this will be the start of a renewed focus on getting Britain building again, and that the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves will follow up with further much-needed reform such as to the Community Infrastructure Levy, so it’s no longer an upfront charge."

In conclusion, McKenzie acknowledged, "It’s good to see a clear statement from the new Government that it will focus on the growth that our economy needs."

The synthesis of high hopes and realistic caution marks the FSB's stance as they call for essential reforms and recognition of small builders' pivotal roles in reaching these ambitious housing goals.