Ceramics UK Response to Labour Conference Housing and Infrastructure Announcements

Housing Ambition Must Be Backed by Delivery, Confidence and Support for UK Industry 

Last week's Labour Conference placed housing delivery, home ownership and economic growth firmly at the heart of the Government's agenda. 

Announcements ranging from a new first-time buyer support scheme and a major council housebuilding programme to energy infrastructure reforms and proposals around housing design demonstrate a welcome recognition that the UK needs to build more homes and improve affordability. 

Ceramics UK supports measures that increase housing delivery and help more people access home ownership. However, the success of these ambitions will depend not on announcements, but on implementation. 

The Government must ensure that new policies accelerate activity across the housing market rather than create further uncertainty or unintended barriers to development. 

Rob Flello, CEO of Ceramics UK, said: 

"Britain urgently needs more homes, but it also needs confidence throughout the construction supply chain. The challenge now is ensuring that well-intentioned policies translate into homes being built, investment being made and British industry being supported." 

First-Time Buyer Support Must Not Lead to a Market Slowdown 

Ceramics UK welcomes the proposed "Your First Home" scheme, which would allow eligible first-time buyers to purchase new-build homes with deposits as low as 2.5%, supported by a government equity loan. 

Helping more people achieve home ownership is an important objective and could provide a significant boost to demand for new housing. 

However, there is a risk that a lengthy period between announcement and implementation could suppress activity in the short term if developers, investors and buyers delay decisions while waiting for the scheme to become available. 

"The biggest danger is not the scheme itself, it's the gap between announcement and implementation," said Rob Flello. "Government must move quickly or risk creating a gap in housebuilding at the wrong time. The industry needs certainty and continuity if housing delivery is to accelerate." 

Ceramics UK is urging ministers to provide clarity and speed when setting out further details at the forthcoming Budget. 

Council Housebuilding Programme Presents Major Opportunity 

The ambition to deliver the largest council housebuilding programme in generations is a positive step towards addressing chronic housing shortages. 

Local authorities have an important role to play in delivering the homes the country needs, and the use of surplus public land could help unlock much-needed development opportunities. 

At the same time, Ceramics UK believes public investment in housing should deliver wider economic benefits across the UK economy. 

"If public money is funding new homes, those projects should support British jobs and British manufacturing wherever possible," said Rob Flello. "A major housebuilding programme represents an opportunity to strengthen domestic supply chains while delivering the homes communities need." 

The UK ceramics sector manufactures many of the products essential to housing delivery, including clay bricks, roof tiles, clay drainage systems, ceramic sanitaryware and a wide range of other construction products. 

Protecting Confidence in Home Ownership 

Ceramics UK has expressed concern about proposals that would give councils stronger powers over long-term empty properties. 

While the objective of bringing vacant homes back into use is understandable, reforms must strike an appropriate balance between increasing housing supply and maintaining confidence in ownership and investment. 

"The UK has benefited from being a nation that values home ownership and property rights," said Rob Flello. "Any intervention should be carefully considered to ensure confidence in housing investment and ownership is not undermined." 

Energy Reform Must Address Real Challenges 

Ceramics UK welcomes efforts to improve electricity connections and reduce costs through the proposed Great British Grid initiative. 

However, manufacturers continue to face significant challenges relating to energy affordability, network constraints and delays in securing grid connections. 

The association believes success will depend on addressing the underlying structural issues affecting the UK's energy infrastructure. 

"Manufacturers need affordable, reliable energy and faster connections," said Rob Flello. "The focus must be on solving the issues that impact competitiveness rather than simply creating new structures around existing challenges." 

As an energy-intensive sector, the ceramics industry has consistently called for reforms that improve competitiveness while maintaining reliability and resilience across the network. 

Quality Must Remain at the Heart of Housing Delivery 

Ceramics UK also notes the continued emphasis on standardised housing designs and off-site construction methodologies. 

While innovation can play an important role in increasing housing delivery, policy must avoid prioritising speed alone at the expense of quality, durability and long-term performance. 

For generations, homes built using traditional construction products such as clay bricks, roof tiles and ceramic materials have demonstrated exceptional longevity and resilience. 

"The housing challenge is not simply about numbers," said Rob Flello. "It's about building homes that people will still value in 100 years' time. The materials we choose today will determine the quality, durability and sustainability of the homes we leave for future generations." 

Ceramics UK believes future housing policy should recognise the value of proven construction products that contribute to the long-term quality of Britain's housing stock. 

From Announcement to Action 

Ceramics UK supports the Government's ambition to increase housing supply, improve affordability and deliver growth. 

However, alongside housing targets, ministers must focus on maintaining market confidence, accelerating delivery and ensuring policy supports domestic manufacturing and supply chains. 

"The objective should be simple," concluded Rob Flello. "Build more homes, build them without delay, and ensure the benefits flow through to British communities, British manufacturers and the wider UK economy. Housing policy and industrial strategy must go hand in hand if these ambitions are to be realised."