NFB Launches New Voice for Housebuilders
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has responded to the increasing challenges faced by its housebuilder members by launching a special-interest lobby group called the Housebuilders Association (HBA).
Launching in November, the HBA aims to represent the interests of the industry�s small and medium sized housebuilders.
Barry Stephens, chief executive of the NFB, whose membership has a combined turnover of several billion and already includes 800 housebuilders, said the core purpose of the Association would be to challenge Government on the sector�s regulatory, financial and planning regimes and promote the industry�s SME agenda.
He said: "The formation of the HBA recognises that medium sized and smaller housebuilders have an agenda that is significantly different in a number of key respects from that of general contractors and large volume housebuilders, and that agenda is not being effectively championed or advocated to decision makers and opinion formers."
In addition to the technical and advisory services currently provided by the NFB, HBA members will be supported by strategic policy consultancy from Roger Humber, the former chief executive of the House Builders Federation (now known as the Home Builders Federation) who has over 30 years of experience in the industry.
The HBA�s inaugural campaign, and a major catalyst behind the formation of the Association, will be to call on Government for a delay to the introduction of Part L, the Building Regulation that deals with energy efficiency. Also on the agenda are planning strategies which do not reflect the contribution that will be needed from medium sized builders for the Government�s �Growth Areas�, to which only the volume builders can respond.
Mr Humber said: "Current Government policy and the demands of an increasingly regulatory climate are making it harder for the sector�s SMEs to build.
"Our first campaign will be to lobby Government for a delay in the introduction of Part L, the latest addition to the regulatory regime that, if enforced, will have a profound impact upon the SME builder. The Government appears to be insensitive to the fact that the late arrival of the software to calculate SAP 2005 ratings will leave insufficient time to prepare for the regulations.
"We will be calling for a meeting so that we can voice members� concerns that once again the Government has not listened to the needs of the SME housebuilder before implementing policy and to demonstrate how we can work together for the benefit of the industry."
Mr Humber said the organisation was seeking to attract companies operating across the housing industry including private residential developers, social and partnership housebuilders and those engaged in mixed-used development.
ENDS
7 November 2005Press information:
Paul Cook, Citypress PR. T. 0161 606 0260.