Seven years after SuDS became mandatory in Wales, what’s working, what still needs improvement, and what England can learn from the experience of home builders in Wales? We’ve joined up with Brookbanks to examine SuDS challenges currently affecting housing delivery, 👉 buff.ly/buX9hPN

Interesting piece in The Times today on Help to Buy and the wider housing market. Lack of demand is now one of the most significant constraints on increasing housing supply, with the absence of dedicated Government support and limited affordable mortgage lending suppressing demand for new homes.

The Times and Sunday Times@thetimes.com · 3d ago

‘Active review’ being conducted by the housing minister into reviving incentives to help new buyers on to the property ladder

We want to know how likely it is that your SME business will be operating in the home building industry in 5 years' time. Share your insight 👇 buff.ly/xfiUurT

It’s election day in Greater Manchester. The next Mayor will have a key role in helping deliver the region’s housing ambitions and ensuring more people can access the homes they need.

NHBC’s fully-funded Masterclasses help site teams understand common inspection findings and apply best practice from the outset. ✔ 90 minutes ✔ Delivered on your site ✔ Fully-funded by CITB Funding for this HBF initiative ends in September. Brickwork 👉 buff.ly/quj1AQF Roofing 👉 buff.ly/EYyhV2E

Welsh Government has extended Help to Buy - Wales to 31 March 2027. Since its introduction a decade ago, the scheme has supported the purchase of around 15,000 new homes and helped 11,000 first-time buyer households - generating a £40million return to Welsh Government.

Which three supply side factors most limit your ability to deliver new homes? SME home builders, complete our short sentiment survey to enable us to build a picture of experiences on the ground. 👉 buff.ly/xfiUurT

Home ownership in England has fallen from 71% in 2003 to just 64.8% in 2024. This equates to more than 1.5 million “missing” homeowner households

Development viability is now the biggest barrier for SME home builders. 75% cite it as a top constraint, overtaking planning delays. 99% say improving viability would help unlock new sites and boost delivery. SME Sentiment Survey 👇 buff.ly/ZdnBNzf

SME home builders: How would you describe your overall outlook on the housing market over the next three months for each region you operate in? Tell us 👉 buff.ly/xfiUurT

In one week, Greater Manchester will choose its next Mayor. Housing delivery has been strong, but affordability has worsened across every borough. Building 14,400 homes a year could support 50,000 jobs and generate £3.2bn annually. Our 5 recommendations for the next Mayor 👇 buff.ly/uSKjHsM

Looking to reduce rework on your developments? NHBC’s Roofing and Brickwork Masterclasses are delivered on site and designed around the most common issues identified by NHBC inspectors. A HBF initiative, funded by CITB until September, these practical sessions are available to book buff.ly/No54gop

Learn Advanced Brickwork Techniques | NHBC Shop

Enhance your skills with our practical HBSP Brickwork Masterclass, addressing common issues and promoting good practices on site. Join now!

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SuDS is not a one-size-fits-all solution. While clear principles are important, many developments face site-specific challenges. Small, isolated SuDS features, unclear maintenance expectations, high commuted sums and inconsistent interpretation can all add cost, delay and uncertainty.

Sharing your feedback on these questions will enable us to build a picture of SME sentiment across the industry👉

HBF and QDF SME Home Builders Sentiment Survey: Q3 2026

Please click the link to complete this form.

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How workable is the current SuDS system? We've partnered with Brookbanks on a new report looking at the delivery of sustainable drainage systems in Wales, seven years on from SuDS becoming mandatory. Read the report at buff.ly/buX9hPN

What action could the new political leadership take to boost your confidence to invest in new housing developments? Share your insight in our latest SME sentiment survey 👇 buff.ly/xfiUurT

HBF and QDF SME Home Builders Sentiment Survey: Q3 2026

Please click the link to complete this form.

form.jotform.com

Our Q3 SME developer Sentiment Survey is live. Take a few minutes to share your perspective on supply and demand side constraints, the forthcoming Building Safety Levy and the impact of current market conditions? Complete the survey now 👉 buff.ly/xfiUurT

Need a simple way to upskill onsite teams and support subcontractors without taking them off site for a full day? Book a fully-funded 90-minute roofing or brickwork session, delivered on your developments. Brickwork 👉 buff.ly/quj1AQF Roofing 👉 buff.ly/EYyhV2E

Learn Advanced Brickwork Techniques | NHBC Shop

Enhance your skills with our practical HBSP Brickwork Masterclass, addressing common issues and promoting good practices on site. Join now!

buff.ly

87% of SME home builders say buyer support would make them more likely to start new sites. New SME Sentiment Survey shows demand-side constraints continue to limit delivery 👇 ➡️ 69% cite housing market conditions as a top barrier ➡️ 63% point to low buyer confidence ➡️ 41% highlight mortgage rates

New data released today shows new home completions in Wales have increased by 11% 📈 Here’s what the numbers tell us 👇 🔸 5,159 new homes were completed in Wales in 2025/26, up 11% 🔸 Around 4,800 new homes were started in 2024/25, up 12%

11,000 first-time buyers have been supported onto the property ladder through Help to Buy Wales. In the decade since its launch, 15,000 buyers have used the scheme – helping them to step onto or up the property ladder & generating a return to Welsh Government of over £40 million.

Over 90% of SME home builders say the Iran conflict has worsened their 12-month outlook. Over a quarter have already paused or reconsidered new sites Geopolitical uncertainty is adding to existing pressures and risks further constraining delivery. SME Sentiment Survey➡️ buff.ly/ZdnBNzf

Around a third of all new Affordable Housing in Wales is delivered by private sector home builders… With 900 Affordable Homes funded by developer contributions each year on average.

Funding for our Brickwork and Roofing Masterclasses is due to end in September, leaving just a limited window for site teams to take advantage of this fully-funded training opportunity. If you've been considering booking a session, now is the time to do so. buff.ly/No54gop

Time is running out to book fully-funded Brickwork and Roofing Masterclasses. ✔ Delivered on your site ✔ No cost to your business or subcontractors ✔ Supports quality, productivity and skills development Book before funding ends in September. Brickwork 👉 buff.ly/quj1AQF Roofing 👉 buff.ly/EYyhV2E

7 in 10 SME home builders now have a negative 3-month outlook for the housing market. Our latest SME Sentiment Survey shows: 📉 75% view conditions negatively 📉 44% expect housing starts to fall 📉48% reporting significant caution or delays to site starts Full results 👉 buff.ly/ZdnBNzf

Now included in www.thinkhouse.org.uk :: @homebuildersfed.bsky.social REPORT :: Build the homes Wales needs and unlock hundreds of millions in community investment :: Awaiting Editorial Panel assessment. #ukhousing #housingresearch #housingpolicy

Thinkhouse library of UK housing reports

Thinkhouse holds a library of the best and most innovative research pieces, policy publications and case studies on the quantity and quality of the UK's housing stock.

thinkhouse.org.uk

Last year, the unemployment figure in Wales increased by a third – from 3.3% to 4.5%. Home building supports around 17,500 jobs in Wales each year, inc over 200 apprentices, graduates and trainees – like this group of apprentices training with Davies Homes, an SME home builder based in South Wales.

Join technical professionals from across the home building industry at the HBF Technical Conference 2026. With the Future Homes Standard now published, alongside evolving environmental and regulatory demands, this year’s conference will explore these significant changes. Book now 👉 buff.ly/FuZAOey

88% of SME home builders report that council tax charges are affecting their cash flow, therefore threatening their ability to deliver future sites. Almost half of LAs are charging full council tax on unoccupied new homes, inc those still under construction - like this example from Baker Estates.