The message from the government is loud: “build, build, build.”
Yet for many small and medium-sized housebuilders, the reality feels very different.
Planning delays, rising costs, and tightening finances are stalling projects before they even break ground.
Here’s what we’re seeing across the industry:
- SMEs once built nearly 40% of new homes (1988). Today, that figure is closer to 10%.
- More than 1.1 million homes in England have planning permission but remain unbuilt.
- Over 50% of SME builders wait more than a year for planning approval.
- Completions fell 13% last year; starts dropped 20% — the lowest since 2014.
Government reforms are underway — from new planning pathways to a proposed £16 billion National Housing Bank — but many are asking whether these changes will arrive quickly enough to have a tangible impact on the ground.
Why this matters
SMEs play a critical role in housing delivery, often taking on smaller or more complex sites that large developers overlook. Without practical and timely support, the gap between targets and actual completions will only widen.
We want your view
Are you feeling the pressure of planning delays, rising costs, or funding challenges? Which barrier is holding you back the most?
Join the discussion on LinkedIn — Here
