NFB chief executive writes to minister talking over 鈥榮hellshock鈥 at package of proposals
A split has opened up between large and small housebuilders over the government鈥檚 plan to make new homes carbon neutral by 2016.
Julia Evans, the chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), has written to Angela Smith, the junior planning minister, over the issue.
She comments that the initial 鈥渟hellshock鈥 among housebuilders is now turning to anger.
She says in the letter: 鈥淪ome of the anger is directed at a small number of major housebuilders who, for commercial reasons of their own, are apparently indicating to ministers that the proposals are acceptable. They do not represent the views of the industry as a whole.鈥
The proposals will seriously damage housebuilding viability and output
Julia Evans, NFB chief executive
Evans says the proposals put too great a burden on the housebuilding industry and she criticises the idea of having homes generate their own energy.
She writes: 鈥淎s they stand, the proposals will seriously damage housebuilding viability and output and will only hasten the exodus of small and medium-sized housebuilders from the industry, and further concentrate the land they dispose of in the hands of the volume housebuilders.鈥
In response Paul Pedley, the executive deputy chairman of Redrow Homes, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 really important that people see the longer term objective. If we want to preserve the world for our children and grandchildren, we have to take a responsible attitude. We don鈥檛 have the option to put our heads in the sand.鈥
The NFB includes the House Builders Association, which represents about 900 small and medium-sized housbuilders.
Postscript
Have small firms got their 鈥榟eads in the sand鈥? Email building@cmpi.biz
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