Housing Bank unlocks finance — MEDITE SMARTPLY highlights next steps for delivery.
The UK Government has announced a new £16bn National Housing Bank to help unlock over 500,000 new homes and speed up progress on complex or stalled sites. It’s a move that has been welcomed by construction leaders and that marks a major step forward for housing delivery in line with the goal of building 1.5 million homes.
As the sector prepares to scale up, timber systems manufacturer MEDITE SMARTPLY is highlighting two factors that will be key to successful implementation: maintaining momentum on workforce development, and ensuring clarity around evolving building standards.
A recent survey conducted by MEDITE SMARTPLY and the Structural Timber Association found:
- 73% of respondents report skilled labour shortages, with concerns around apprenticeships, training, and long-term workforce viability.
- 29% of the industry cites labour as their biggest challenge in the market, closely followed by 26% citing Building Regulations, certifications and specifications
- There is a strong sense of frustration about regulatory ambiguity and feeling that standards are overlooking SMEs
Roly Ward, Head of Business Development at MEDITE SMARTPLY, commented: “We can’t build low carbon homes at scale with a workforce that’s shrinking and ageing by the year. The reality is that many young people don’t see construction, and especially timber, as a modern, forward-facing career. That has to change.
“We need to invest not just in products, but in avenues of bringing fresh skills into the sector, from colleges and apprenticeships to upskilling experienced trades. If we don’t tackle this now, the gap between ambition and delivery will only widen.
“One of the most telling insights from the survey is that 39% of respondents are already building above regulations. Yet, they feel overlooked by the Future Homes Standard.[i] That disconnect says a lot about how the standard is being communicated and applied. If FHS is going to work as a driver of low-carbon housing, it needs to bring SMEs with it, not leave them guessing.”
With offsite and timber-based construction expected to play a growing role in housing delivery, MEDITE SMARTPLY is calling on the sector to build on this week’s announcement with coordinated investment in skills and clearer support for SMEs navigating new regulatory expectations.
[i] The Future Homes Standard is a new UK regulation due to take effect in 2025, which will require newly built homes to meet much stricter carbon and energy efficiency standards.
