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News Release from: Federation of Master Builders (FMB) | Subject: Promoting small-scale new housing developments
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 16 October 2007
Existing communities can solve housing
crisis
Federation of Master Builders calls for incentives to promote small-scale new housing developments as opposed to creating large new settlements
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is calling for incentives to promote small-scale new housing developments, which focus on existing neighbourhoods, villages and towns, as opposed to creating large new settlements, in its response to the Government's housing green paper Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB says, "England's housing crisis would be best achieved by promoting small scale housing development which could provide an estimated 18 million family sized homes
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 27 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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England is the most crowded country in Europe with the worst road congestion, and the longest commuting distances of all our European neighbours.
Although we have only built on 11% of our land this development has sprawled very badly with most of our remaining green land either in use, protected, or needed for environmental food, recreation and forestry purposes.
We need to concentrate new housing development on existing communities rather than going for a mad dash for suburban and rural housing.
Berry continues, "Given that by 2050 an estimated two thirds of us will be living in homes that already exist today, the need to modernise and maintain our existing housing stock is vital to our housing future.
The easiest way to achieve this would be for the Government to cut VAT on energy efficient repairs and maintenance from 17.5% to 5% to ensure that the existing housing stock can be repaired and upgraded for future use".
The FMB is also warning about the need to ensure improved design and quality coupled with a more efficient planning system.
Berry warns, "The planning system is the single most important factor inhibiting the construction of new housing.
Planning needs to be reformed to make it more streamlined, less bureaucratic, more predictable and quicker.
Coupled with this we need to make sure that housing policy puts a new emphasis on quality and design.
It is imperative that we do not repeat the mistakes of earlier decades which have resulted in demolitions and the creation of 'sink estates', which have damaged social cohesion resulting in increased crime and poor health.".
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