Members of the R&B Housebuilders Forum recently took part in a roundtable discussion with Show House magazine, exploring the pressures facing SME housebuilders in today's market and how they are adapting to meet them.
Michael Pratt of Dundee-based InverTay Homes, Georgina Hammond of Beau Property in Tunbridge Wells, and William Togher of Kidbrook Homes in Farnham each shared their experiences of a market that all three agreed is among the toughest they've seen.
For Georgina, sales isn't the problem, planning is. Delays mean that for the first time in its 10-year history, Beau Property is currently unable to get on site anywhere, despite strong demand for its homes. William echoed these concerns, pointing to the imbalance between what SMEs can propose and the scale of objection they face compared to volume builders.
Viability, affordability and a lack of mortgage-ready buyers were also raised, alongside frustration that successive governments have struggled to grasp the practical realities of housebuilding at SME scale. The group agreed that given the current housing emergency, building more homes, including for those in temporary accommodation, should be a shared priority rather than a political football.
There were flashes of optimism too. Michael spoke about the potential for councils to release land at low or no cost to unlock stalled sites, and about InverTay's move into build to rent backed by patient, long-term investment.
Whilst the conversation didn't shy away from the challenges, what came through most strongly was resilience. William, Georgina and Michael each spoke with real pride in what they build, and their determination to keep going even as conditions remain difficult, with William summing it up: "I really love what I do; feel blessed that I'm able to do it and believe I'm very good at it."
To read the full discussion, visit Show House.
We're grateful to Show House for facilitating this roundtable and giving our members a platform to speak openly about the realities on the ground as SME housebuilders.
