NFB forms lobby group to support members

The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has launched a special interest lobby group to represent the interests of the industry’s small and medium sized (SMEs) housebuilders.

The core purpose of the Housebuilders Association (HBA), which is not a separate body but is contained within the NFB, will be challenging government on the sector’s regulatory, financial and planning regimes and to promote the industry’s SME agenda.

NFB chief executive Barry Stephens said: “The formation of the HBA recognises that medium sized and smaller housebuilders have an agenda that is significantly different in a number of key respects from that of general contractors and large volume housebuilders, and that agenda is not being effectively championed or advocated to decision makers and opinion formers.”

The HBA’s inaugural campaign will be to call on government for a delay to the introduction of Part L of the Building Regulation that deals with energy efficiency. 

An NFB spokesman denied that that the HBA would be looking to prise SMEs from the former House Builders Federation, now known as the Home Builders Federation, but added that they would be more than welcome to join if they felt the services offered would be of benefit to them.

HBA members will be supported by strategic policy consultancy from Roger Humber, former chief executive of the House Builders Federation.

The NFB membership has a combined turnover of several billion and already includes 800 house builders.