Initial thoughts from industry leaders as the prime minister unexpectedly calls a 4 July election
Industry leaders have been reacting to Rishi Sunak鈥檚 unexpected decision to call a general election for 4 July, with many hoping the poll will provide markets with much-needed certainty after a turbulent few years.
Will Poole, partner at architectural practice Howells, spoke to 黑洞社区 from the UKREIIF conference in Leeds. He said Sunak鈥檚 election announcement just after 5pm yesterday had given attendees 鈥渁 shot in the arm and seems to have created a bit of a buzz鈥�.
He said: 鈥淚t seems to have been well received as good news that there鈥檚 going to be some clear outcome sooner rather than later,鈥� adding that there had been a 鈥渟tasis鈥� for the past years as overlapping constraints on building costs had made the market stagnate.
鈥淯ltimately, it鈥檚 stability that will underpin confidence in the market and investment in the UK, and will also help the flow of new homes being built.鈥�
Asked if there was more warmth in the built environment towards Labour than the Conservatives, he said: 鈥淚 think you鈥檇 have to be in quite an isolated mindset to feel that it is a balanced fight. I think that鈥檚 a question that probably answers itself.鈥�
Andy Cleevely, partner at consultant Ridge & Partners, said the overall response at the conference had been positive. 鈥淚t kind of feels as though the market has been a little bit tentative, waiting for this to happen and to get some sort of definition around it. So I think it鈥檚 a positive thing.鈥�
He said he expected the formation of a new government to see an upturn in the market. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a boom time at the moment and I think that鈥檚 partly because there is a lot of uncertainty in the market. I think the interest rates the inflation have had an impact on that. And so I think we need a bit of certainty.鈥�
Richard O鈥橬eil, director at HLM Architects, said the poll was an opportunity to 鈥渞e-establish confidence and trust in public office鈥�.
He added: 鈥淗owever the country decides, change must mean a commitment to invest in our communities, and bring public and private investment together through clear collaborative initiatives.
鈥漈here are significant challenges that all parties need to address in their manifestos: homelessness, child poverty, climate change, social care and many other critical requirements. The construction industry needs to see clear leadership from the party manifestos.鈥�
UKGBC deputy chief executive Simon McWhirter described the vote in six weeks鈥� time as the 鈥渂uilt environment election鈥�.
He added: 鈥淲ith the linked environmental, nature and cost of living crises, this is the most important election in a generation.
鈥淥ur buildings are the nexus of how we can solve many of these pressing challenges while delivering homes, offices and public buildings that are warmer, more comfortable, cheaper to run, and which tread more lightly on the planet.鈥�
Director of operations for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Marie-Claude Hemming said the next few weeks would allow the main parties to set out their plans for strengthening the UK economy, 鈥渟ounding the starting gun on a new focus on the UK鈥檚 infrastructure needs鈥�.
She said the CECA wants to see the next government make 鈥渃lear-cut commitments鈥� to infrastructure policy within the first 100 days in office.
鈥淩ecent years have seen unprecedented shocks to the UK economy, such as the covid-19 pandemic and the energy crisis prompted by Russia鈥檚 illegal invasion of Ukraine,鈥� she added.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it is more important than ever that we take the UK鈥檚 infrastructure needs out of party-political considerations, and work to ensure the requirements of businesses and communities will be met irrespective of the make-up of the next UK government.鈥�
Many in the residential sector expressed hope that the poll will provide much-needed certainty over the direction of housing policy.
Gavin Smart, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said the election 鈥減rovides an opportunity to place housing at the centre of the public discourse鈥�.
Adam Lawrence, chief executive of housebuilder London Square, said we 鈥渘eed a new government now with a clear mandate to drive the UK forward鈥�.
He added: 鈥淲e have been in limbo for so long. We welcome clarity. It will be good for the housing sector and business generally.鈥�
Jamie Ratcliff, chief communities and sustainability officer at newly-merged 80,000-home association Sovereign Network Group, said voters will expect 鈥渟erious鈥� manifesto pledges that treat housing as critical national infrastructure.
鈥淐ertainty of who will be governing the country will very welcome and whoever forms the next government must equally give certainty to the housing sector, supporting us to provide the good, affordable homes that are urgently needed,鈥� Ratcliff added.
As thoughts turn towards the general election, the UK is facing some serious problems.
Low growth, flatlining productivity, question marks over net zero funding and capability, skills shortages and a worsening housing crisis all amount to a daunting in-tray for the next government.
This year鈥檚 general election therefore has very high stakes for the built environment and the economy as a whole.
For this reason, 黑洞社区 has launched its most in-depth election coverage yet, helping the industry to understand the issues in play and helping to amplify construction鈥檚 voice so that the government hears it loud and clear.
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