BOOK NOW | The Role of SME Housebuilders in Delivering the Nation’s Homes
SME housebuilders will need to play an outsized role over the coming years if the government is going to achieve its target of 1.5m new homes by the end of the parliament. This half-day conference will explore what that looks like and how we get there.
Through planning reform and the recently published devolution white paper, the government has made bold commitments to boosting housing delivery.
Join us in Manchester on Thursday 13 February to learn how the role of the SME housebuilder is changing as the government puts homes front and centre of its agenda.
Book your ticket to find out what needs to happen to ensure these innovative, agile businesses can have more of a say in the local and national housing conversation and gain a better understanding of the changing policy landscape as we plot a course towards 370,000 homes a year.
This event is sponsored by VM Finance, Hope Architects, Mansell Building Solutions and Trowers & Hamlins.
Experts will answer questions such as:
- How can SMEs be empowered to play a larger role in housing delivery?
- What are local authorities doing to unlock sites for SMEs to develop?
- What structural changes does the industry need to make to ensure housebuilders can play their part?
- What are the biggest challenges SMEs are facing right now and how can they be overcome?
- How will recent changes to national planning policy effect SME developers?
The event will be held at INNSIDE by Melia at First Street in Manchester on 13 February 2025. The event will start at 8am and end at midday.
Expect a mixture of engaging presentations and dynamic panel discussions – as well as the networking opportunities we know are important for your business.
In addition to the pre-panel breakfast, you can also expect breaks in between sessions and a post-panel lunch.
Speakers confirmed include:
Sam Stafford is the planning director at the Home Builders Federation. Fewer people have a firmer finger on the pulse of planning reform than Stafford. He will explain what the revised NPPF means for SMEs.
Chris Williamson is the president-elect at RIBA and co-foudner of WW+P. Thinking differently about is design is one of the many ways the housebuilding industry can rise to the challenge of building more and better homes. Has head of RIBA, and also boasting expertise in project management and planning, Williamson is well placed to comment on what the homes of the future should and will look like.
Angela Mansell is the managing director of Mansell Building Solutions. If the government is serious about delivering 1.5m homes by 2029, it needs innovative thinking to overcome some of the biggest hurdles that threaten to undermine that ambition. Mansell will provide insight into how modern methods of construction can play a crucial role in the housing agenda.
Andrew Evans is deputy chief executive at VM Finance. VM Finance specialises in supporting SME housebuilders. Evans will explain the biggest challenges his clients are facing and offer up solutions for solving them.
Phil Cooper is a director at Hope Architects. The only way the 1.5m housing target is going to be met is through the delivery of new homes. This means denser development in appropriate areas. Cooper has long been a proponent of gentle density and he will explain how development can be delivered in a sensitive and effective way.
Jonathan Bloor is the managing director of Richborough Estates. How much land costs and how it can be used are two factors that form the foundation of developer decision-making. Bloor will provide up-to-date insight on how the conversation around land is changing as Labour seeks to ramp up housing delivery.
Emily Williams is a director at Savills. What do changes to national planning policy mean for SME developers and how will plans to overhaul local government help or hinder housing delivery? Williams will have the answer to both questions.
Michelle Parry is the head of development finance at Homes England. Homes England has a crucial role to play in supporting SME housebuilders by unlocking sites. As the agency becomes more focused on placemaking, Parry will provide insights on how the industry needs to adjust to capitalise on the government’s desire to deliver more homes.
David Saville is the North West managing director North West at Caddick Construction. If the government has any chance of delivering 1.5m homes, the construction industry has to be on board. Saville will delve into the challenges his sector is facing and explain how collaboration with its clients, supply chain, and the public sector can eradicate inefficiencies and result in a better end product.
Paul Dennett is the city mayor at Salford City Council. Faced with a shortage of good quality affordable homes, Salford City Council is one of several local authorities across the country taking housing delivery back into its own hands. Dennett will explain the reasons for this and how the SME sector can support this mission.
Jeremy Whittle is the managing director of Tyson Construction. Tight margins, skills shortages, and rising costs are all impacting the construction sector. Whittle will explain how he and his peers are navigating the choppy waters.
