黑洞社区

Tributes have been paid to the former chief executive of the Home Builders Federation, and lifelong housebuilding industry advocate, Roger Humber, who died suddenly on Monday.

The current boss of the HBF, Stewart Baseley, described Humber, who ran the organisation for 20 years up to 1999 and was largely responsible for creating it in its current form, as an 鈥渋ndustry stalwart鈥� who would be 鈥渓ong remembered鈥�.

Humber, a passionate supporter of a free market and low regulation approach to government policy, went on to chair housing association Circle Anglia after leaving the HBF, as well as help set up the SME-focused House Builders Association (HBA), a trade body focused on smaller builders.

Terry Roydon, former chief executive of one-time listed housebuilder Prowting and a president of the HBF during Humber鈥檚 tenure at the body, described him as a 鈥渇earless鈥� advocate for the industry, and said he was 鈥渟hocked and saddened鈥� at the news. 鈥淗e was very strong minded. If he thought something was right, then that鈥檚 what he鈥檇 do. He was never afraid either to praise or to criticise.

鈥淗e fought for what he believed in.鈥�

Watford-born Humber, who was 79, first joined the HBF as a planning officer before becoming chief executive in 1979. During his tenure running the body he engineered its separation from a major contractor trade body 鈥� the National Federation of 黑洞社区 Trades Employers 鈥� largely creating the independent HBF of today.

After stepping down from his role he became an advocate for SME builders as strategic policy advisor to the HBA, which sat within the auspices of the National Federation of Builders, as well as taking on a raft of non-executive positions. These included acting as chair to landowner groups in government-allotted growth areas in both Milton Keynes and Ashford, as well as sitting on the board of Jones Homes and Abbey Homes plc.

Stewart Baseley, executive chair of the HBF, said: 鈥淩oger was an industry stalwart who, at HBF and elsewhere, did a huge amount to shape and position our industry.

鈥淚 join the very many people across housebuilding in mourning his passing. He will be long remembered.鈥�

Rico Wotjulewicz, head of housing and planning policy at the NFB and HBA, who succeeded Humber at the organisation, said Humber was 鈥渢he yardstick anyone representing SME housebuilders must judge themselves by鈥� and would 鈥渘ever be forgotten鈥�.

He said: 鈥淚 will miss our long phone calls where we鈥檇 bounce ideas around, disagree with the government鈥檚 鈥榮trategies鈥�, and have my own thinking challenged and learn from a true great.

鈥淗e truly was the voice for SME builders and a bloody lovely man. Saying he will be missed is an understatement and he will never be forgotten.鈥�

Kathleen Dunmore, economist and founder of viability consultant Three Dragons, who worked with Humber at the HBF, described him as an 鈥渙utstanding and inspiring employer鈥� who was 鈥渙pen to new ideas and willing to enter into dialogue with anyone who cared about the role of housebuilding in the UK economy鈥�.

She said: 鈥淗e was at ease with remote working 30 years before it became the norm. He was a delight to work for.鈥�

John Walker, former deputy chief executive of the Milton Keynes Development Corporation, said Humber had played a key role in agreeing annual rates of land release so that the corporation could satisfy demand for sale housing. 鈥淭his was no small achievement and enabled us to make sure that we kept pace with demand without swamping the market.

鈥淗e was an exceptionally bright, hardworking and honourable man. He represented housebuilders with skill and a real understanding of where the 鈥榦ther side鈥� was coming from.

鈥淗e was always looking at the big picture, but with an excellent eye for detail. He will be sadly missed.鈥�

He is survived by his wife Vivien and two children.