Challenges and Opportunities for SME Home Builders

This document is the fifth edition of the State of Play report, which examines the challenges and opportunities facing small and medium-sized (SME) home builders in the UK for the years 2024-25. It outlines the persistent difficulties that SME builders encounter, including supply chain delays, increasing costs, and stringent building regulations. The report emphasizes the need for government action to support SME builders in achieving the target of 1.5 million new homes. It discusses the impact of recent geopolitical tensions and the importance of planning reforms to facilitate housing development. The report also highlights the resilience of SME builders despite ongoing challenges and calls for a diverse housing market that meets community needs. Additionally, it presents survey findings indicating that many SME builders find it increasingly difficult to operate due to planning delays and resource constraints within local authorities. The document advocates for targeted support and reforms to enhance the capacity of SME builders to contribute to the housing sector.