30 Sep

NATIONAL NEED OF HOUSING

A skilled workforce is required to build more new homes, one expert has indicated.

Head of communications at the Home Builders Federation (HBF) Steve Turner said if the government is serious about increasing the supply of dwellings then qualified personnel are needed.

"If you look at house building, you have got a very challenging agenda including zero carbon homes that are going to need a skilled workforce," he added.

Mr Turner explained the recession resulted in a lot of redundancies and firms had to close down and this meant there has been a reduction in the number of apprentices within the construction industry.

He remarked the provision of housing is a "national need" so the responsibility lies with both the building sector and the regime.