NHBC welcomes plans to unlock 'untapped' land

In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her plans to speed up the planning process and unlock “untapped” land near commuter train stations in a bid to build more homes for “working people”.

The National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) has welcomed the ambitions, saying: “The key to delivering any of this is tackling the chronic skills shortage in construction. We need to see a similar focus on the skills gap, as well as planning reform. NHBC is shaking up housebuilding training with its investment of £100m in the launch of 12 new multi-skill training hubs across the UK. These hubs will produce tradespeople who will support the housebuilding sector’s productivity.

“We are already seeing apprentices at the NHBC Training Hub in Cambridge qualifying in 14-18 months, many with distinctions.”

The CITB’s Open Doors 2025 event (pictured), running 17-22 March, boosts interest in construction careers.