11 March 2015
The trade organisation of UK building societies has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking for urgent and concerted action to help home buyers – particularly self and custom builders.
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In advance of the last Budget of this Parliament next week (18 March), the Building Societies Association (BSA) calls for the Government’s backing in improving the range of providers within the housebuilding sector, with specific support to make self and custom build a more mainstream option for house buyers.
BSA Chief Executive Robin Fieth points to the minimal output of new homes around the country and claims that the “UK’s volume house builders alone cannot alleviate the acute shortage of housing in the UK.”
The letter to the Chancellor trails the launch of BSA’s Housing Manifesto at the House of Lords on Monday (16 March) which contains proposals to help fix the UK’s dysfunctional housing market. These will include the creation of a new Housing Ministry with a Secretary of State in Cabinet, as the government’s housing responsibilities are currently spread across many departments.
The BSA also believes in a cross-party 15-year plan for the UK housing market based on regional long-term demographic changes, employment, environmental concerns and infrastructure.
