Government announces Cutting Red Tape Review

House builders in Britain have been encouraged to have their say on the amount of red tape that is seemingly restricting them from constructing more properties to satisfy demand.

The Government has announced a Cutting Red Tape review, which aims to identify and address the biggest issues that are effecting house builders. In addition, it wishes to collate the views of lesser firms, to understand the pressures that they are under.

Minsters believe that the wide-ranging investigation will cover experiences of those involved in building homes, such as developers, planners and associations.

Voice

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said that the review, ‘will give house builders and smaller construction businesses a powerful voice as part of our £10bn deregulation drive. Where rules are too complicated, ineffective our poorly enforced, I want to hear about it and the Government will take action. Together we can cut red tape and get Britain building.’[1]

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis also said that he is committed to removing barriers experienced by home builders. Lewis said that, ‘we want to hear the views of firms big and small so we can remove unnecessary red tape and help house builders do what they do best, building the homes we need.’[1]

Mr Lewis went on to explain that the starting points for the review are based on priorities recommended by the Task Force. These include:

• roads and infrastructure rules for new housing developments
• EU rules, such as the Habitats Directive
• Wider EU environmental permit rules
• Rules affecting utilities such as electricity, gas and water

Government announces Cutting Red Tape Review

Right to listen

John Allan, a national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, belives that the Government is right to listen to the requirements of smaller organisations. ‘In the 1980’s, smaller house builders delivered around two thirds of our new homes. Today, it is less than a third. If the Government can encourage small firms back into house building, that would be a major step towards meeting this country’s housing needs,’ he noted.[1]

‘The new Cutting Red Tape review will look at the way the law is enforced, as well as whether the rules themselves are proportionate and fit for purpose. The responses from house builders will lead to government taking concrete steps to remove burdens on business,’ he added.[1]

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation was also encouraged by the move. He said, ‘as the industry looks to drive further increases in housing supply we welcome moves to reduce unnecessary regulation and the associated costs.’[1]

‘Aside from the planning system there are significant other regulatory processes and charges levied on the industry that can adversely affect viability, but also, critically, delay the ability of home builders to get on site and start building. Reducing red tape will bring more sites into play more quickly and so help the industry deliver more desperately needed homes in the coming years,’ he also observed.[1]

[1] http://www.propertywire.com/news/europe/uk-builders-red-tape-2015120411281.html