In first speech as Housing Minister Beckett stressed her support for housebuilders, and willingness to hear ideas from the industry Speaking today at the ‘Housing Market Intelligence’ conference in London, HBF Executive Chairman Stewart Baseley told representatives from the house building sector that the industry was at a “crossroads’’ in terms of housing delivery. He said that that the ‘cash cow’ model of recent years that relied on rising land prices would in the future no longer be able to support the growing ‘wish-list of social objectives’ as in the past. He warned that to expect it to do so would result in much needed housing delivery being reduced. ‘Tough decisions will have to be made, if Government wants to achieve its social objectives and see significant housing volume increases once the economy and housing market pick up.’ Baseley went on to say that he was experienced enough to know that the economy, like the housing market was cyclical, and that it would emerge from the current downturn at some point. He was though keen to point out that ongoing discussions about regulation and future policy needed to take in to account the fact that reduced land prices would mean that in the future land owners and home builders would not be able to ‘bear such a significant proportion of the cost of these items, however worthy they may be’. In response, Margaret Beckett, just a few days in to her new role and speaking publicly for the first time as Housing Minister said the Government was absolutely committed to supporting the industry and to listening to house builders concerns, and that she was looking to develop a ‘progressive’ relationship with an industry that she acknowledged had been hit hard in the recent economic downturn. Baseley welcomed the new minister as a ‘politician with a proven political CV who commands respect’ - just the sort of person, he said, the industry needed in the current climate. He went on to welcome the ‘bold and decisive’ Government action in recent days but stated that more needed to be done to assist the housing market, central to a wider economic recovery. These included; action to ensure banks starts lending again further interest rate cuts facilitation of the transfer of homes from the private to the public sector action to protect apprentices, so vital for housing delivery in the future - Ends - View full copy of Stewart Baseley’s speech View a full copy of Margaret Beckett’s speech Notes to Editors: 1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal representative body for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve Turner 020 7960 1606 07919 307 760 steve.turner@hbf.co.uk
