MPs were told of the significant pressures affecting the industry and why urgent action is needed.
The Builders Merchants Federation issued a rallying call at its annual Parliamentary Reception, urging the government to introduce targeted measures to galvanise the market and tackle the malaise in the housebuilding sector.
MPs attending the event, including The Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Chris Curtis, Co-Chair of the Labour Growth Group, The Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Andrew Griffith, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, were told of the significant pressures affecting the industry and why urgent action is needed.
BMF CEO, John Newcomb, confirmed BMF members’ support for the government’s stated ambition to build 1.5 million new homes and upgrade existing ones under the Warm Homes Plan, before describing how the flagship housing commitment has been hampered by planning capacity issues, regulatory delays like nutrient neutrality, insufficient skilled workers, and, most notably, weak consumer confidence.
Calling for a new approach to quickly restore momentum in the housing market and promote job creation, Newcomb said: “Fresh momentum is essential to deliver new homes of all types and tenures, built to higher standards, and affordable for people to buy or rent.
“The Planning and Infrastructure Act, which recently became law, should help unlock stalled projects in the medium term - but that might be too late.
"Young people, in particular, face increasing difficulties in getting onto the property ladder. Yet, for the first time in over 60 years, there is a noticeable absence of government support for first-time buyers, which has heightened frustration among aspiring homeowners.
“We urge the Government to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the housing market, particularly for first-time buyers, through targeted stimulus measures, such as the Freedom to Buy concept proposed by the Home Builders Federation.”
BMF manufacturing members have allocated, from 2024 to 2029, nearly £1.2 billion to expand capacity and capability across factories, production lines, and new processes to produce the materials and products that would support the government’s housing ambitions. While some of this investment is already underway, some remains to be committed, and timing is key.
Newcomb said: “After three years of market stagnation, building products manufacturers need to be confident that the tide is now turning before pressing the go button.
“For instance, there is a clear link between brick sales and house building. In 2022, when more than 243,000 new homes were built, 2.5 billion bricks were sold. By 2025, with just 201,000 homes built, brick sales had fallen to 1.8 billion, a 26% decline.
“While our manufacturing members are well-positioned for an eventual recovery, given subdued demand and the additional costs of recent years, they are more likely to base production decisions on current volumes rather than future prospects - unless they have evidence that a change is imminent.
“And for those starting from a low baseline, it will take several months for production capacity to adjust to a significant increase in demand.
“Support for aspiring homeowners would send a clear signal to our members to have the products ready to get Britain building again.”
