Partner Article

HQM Responds to David Cameron's New Housing Commitment

Gwyn Roberts: BRE New Homes and Communities Team Leader & Home Quality Mark (HQM) Project Leader

The Government’s decision to directly commission 13,000 new homes is encouraging and will spark increased competition among SME housebuilders. As a result, it is essential for participants to take the right steps to differentiate themselves from competitors.

It is well known that small housebuilders and developers in the UK face considerable barriers to growth with planning, access to finance and land availability standing out as the most restricting factors.* A means of enabling firms to set their bids apart from peers is therefore most important and the Home Quality Mark (HQM) provides the tools to do this..

Furthermore, David Cameron has just announced that some of the country’s most run-down housing estates should be replaced with new homes that provide “security” and are more “attractive”. It is imperative that we learn lessons from the past and ensure these homes are cost effective to live in, provide a positive impact upon people’s health and wellbeing.

Whilst ‘quality homes’ are mentioned as part of both initiatives, there is little to suggest what this actually means in practise. The Home Quality Mark provides a framework for designers and builders to work to, ensuring quality. The Mark then provides consumers with the reassurance and value that the home has been built to the highest possible standards.

The Home Quality Mark is an impartial 5-star rating scheme specifically for new build homes that indicates to householders the overall expected costs, health and wellbeing benefits, and environmental footprint associated with living in the home. The Mark helps everyone to fully understand the quality, performance and attributes of a new-build home and was launched to provide consumers with the knowledge to make a smart choice. It is also a valuable way for housebuilders to enhance their reputation and deliver housing that’s fit for the future.

HQM is liaising with government on the role HQM will play in the housebuilder selection process for the commissioning of the 13,000 homes.

* http://probuildermag.co.uk/news/small-builders-face-serious-barriers-growth

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gwyn Roberts .