Trussed Rafter Association urges new government to deliver on housing promises

“Throughout the election campaign, a consistent need raised by people in all communities across the country was the need for more, and better, housing,” said Nick Boulton,TRA chief executive.

“The Conservatives pledged to tackle that, promising measures to help first-time buyers and boost new housebuilding, targeting the delivery of at least a million more new homes over the next five years.

“While lower than their previous target from 2017, which had been to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s, it is probably more realistic given the severe skills shortages in the sector. What matters now is delivery on those promises.”

Mr Boulton also urged the government to make rapid planning reforms, support for more affordable housing development via local councils, fast progress with the regulatory changes on fire safety and continued support for high quality modern methods of construction.

“In particular, we will also continue to push for major new housebuilding programmes in 2020 to be tied to the UK’s zero carbon targets,” added Mr Boulton.

The TRA is a member of the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) and assisted the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Timber Industries to quantify the benefits of timber in construction, including lowering carbon emissions, speeding up delivery, improving quality and creating local jobs.