Government accused of missed opportunity over King’s Speech

King Charles has delivered his first King's Speech as monarch, outlining 21 laws that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Government plans to pass in the next year-long session of Parliament.

But the proposals have met with a lukewarm response from industry and described as a major “missed opportunity” prior to the expected General Election next year.

RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said: “The Government’s agenda for the next year should do more to address the housing crisis and climate emergency. This is a missed opportunity.

“The emphasis placed on increasing energy supply, rather than adopting a National Retrofit Strategy to reduce energy demand, feels misguided. And while the Renters (Reform) and Leasehold and Freehold Bills show a desire to rebalance the housing system, they do not go far enough. The Government must invest in a radical housing strategy – backed by skilled design expertise – to ensure the delivery of high-quality, sustainable homes in places where people want to live.

“With the General Election looming, we will continue to work with the Government to support the delivery of a better, greener and fairer built environment.”

Brian Berry Chief Executive of the FMB said: “It is disappointing that that there was nothing of note in the King's Speech to address the alarming decline in housebuilding rates across the country or any new plans to improve the nation’s draughty and leaky homes. At a time when we need to be focusing on economic growth the absence of ambition to build more homes and improve the ones we have is a missed opportunity.

“The King’s Speech reference to plans to regenerate towns across the UK is promising but without the detail the jury is still out about whether this will benefit local builders. A clear commitment from the Government to engage with SMEs would have helped provide more assurance at a time when enquiries for new building work are falling by as much as 40%.

“More encouraging is the Government’s lead to improve the quality of technical education in this country with its focus on enhancing skills and vocational training, ensuring that everybody can receive the best possible education, through the new Advanced British Standard qualification. This has long been an issue of great importance to SME builders looking to recruit staff and grow their businesses.”

The planning system in the UK is one of the issues that need to be fixed to ensure housebuilding. RICS welcomed the government's continued focus to regenerate towns and "put local people in control of their future." Its recent construction survey revealed that a notable drop in housebuilding caused overall construction workloads to fall.

Changes to permitted development rights or removal of planning needs for extensions and conversions must be managed to avoid rabbit hutch homes; RICS regularly sees properties where relaxation in planning rules has come at the detriment of quality, safety, and sustainability.

However, RICS is disappointed that the government moved away from its commitment to introducing higher energy-efficiency standards into the rental market. Included in the Kings Speech, should have been an announcement to reform EPC methodology, given the Independent Review into Net Zero recommendation to introduce new energy standards based on a new energy measurement system.

Rachael Williamson, CIH's head of policy and external affairs shared her analysis on how the speech impacts the housing sector.

"CIH have been calling on government to reform the leasehold system, so we welcome the commitment to bring forward a Leasehold and Freehold Bill in the next parliamentary session,” she said. “We do, however, remain concerned about whether the reforms will go far enough in delivering meaningful change. We continue to call for delivery of the recommendations set out by the Law Commission.

"Similarly, we are pleased to see commitment to progress the Renters Reform Bill following slow progress to date. CIH has long called for the ending of section 21 (‘no fault’) evictions, however the caveat in the Bill’s second reading, reinforced in the King’s speech, to not commence abolition until stronger possession grounds and a new court process is in place is potentially concerning in terms of timings. For the Bill to achieve its stated aims it is vital that the government introduces the further measures committed to in its white paper. We will continue to work with members, partners and government to look to strengthen certain aspects.

"Prior to the King’s Speech it was widely reported that the government was planning to introduce legislation which would criminalise the use of tents by people rough sleeping. It is positive to see that following robust challenge from the homelessness sector, which CIH was proud to be part of, these proposals were not included. Efforts must now be concentrated on evidence-based solutions that will positively impact on preventing homelessness, including unfreezing housing benefit in the upcoming Autumn Statement.

"Also absent from the speech, despite being widely trailed, was a commitment to bring forward legislation to overhaul nutrient pollution laws. This will be a welcome omission for many in the sector concerned about the negative impact of the government's relaxation plans."