Housebuilders: Information Sharing

Baroness Scott of Bybrook Excerpts

Tuesday 15th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)]

As I already commented, this is the biggest settlement ever achieved by the CMA. Of course, we can always do with more money for housing. We have to consider what is appropriate in these circumstances. I am sure the CMA has done that. This will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to delivering the affordable housing we all want to see. I am sure that the CMA will continue to watch the market very carefully to see that the changes that are introduced as a result of its report make the difference that we know we need.

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, UK GDP fell by 0.1% in May, with declines in industrial output and construction dragging down the overall performance. What communication has the Minister had with the construction industry to ensure that not just major housebuilders, which we have heard about, but the important SME housebuilding sector are supported? What support is she giving them to grow rather than stall or regress, as they are at the moment, particularly in the context of the Government’s housing ambitions?

[Baroness Taylor of Stevenage]

I thank the noble Baroness, although I have set out already the action that we are taking to support SMEs, including the £100 million in SME accelerator loans. We are working collaboratively with all stakeholders, including large developers. That includes setting up the major sites accelerator, which is helping to unblock some of the sites that we know have been held up in the process. A lot of work is being done with the Home Builders Federation, the industry and development companies to make sure that, alongside our reforms to planning and infrastructure delivery, we are moving this on as quickly as possible. As my noble friend Lord Livermore has just said on the previous Question, this will make the biggest contribution to growth, and we know that that is what will get our country going again.