The BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) has congratulated the incoming Labour government and called for swift action to “Get Britain Building Again”.
Addressing new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, BMF CEO John Newcomb urged the new government to recognise the role, value and importance of the building materials supply chain in housing the nation.
He urged government to talk to the BMF about how they will rise to the challenge in delivering the necessary materials and products to build the 1.5 million new homes pledged by the new government.
He said: “Sir Keir, Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves have signalled their desire and determination to be ‘the builders, not the blockers’. We welcome the fresh impetus they bring to inject more urgency into building more new homes and to reform the planning system.
“The new government has a clear idea of what it wants to do and must now show a sense of purpose to get on with building a million and a half new homes. We look forward to their much-anticipated Housing Recovery Plan and hearing what ministers want to do in their first 100 days.”
John also emphasised the importance of a nationwide programme of home insulation to cut energy bills, upgrade cold homes and reduce carbon emissions. He said the blueprint for this is the Construction Leadership Council’s 20-year National Retrofit Strategy to improve the thermal and energy performance of existing homes.
He added: “We note Labour’s manifesto promise for an additional £6.5bn to upgrade the energy efficiency of five million homes to cut bills for families. BMF members have a key role to play as they make and deliver the majority of materials and products needed to upgrade properties and improve living standards as we move towards decarbonising homes and electrifying heating.
“But this can only be achieved with unrelenting efforts by government and industry, working together in partnership, to complete the necessary improvements that many households urgently need.
“We stand ready to help ministers with this vital work and look forward to our first meeting with Angela Rayner and Matthew Pennycook to Get Britain Building Again”.