Can the new government achieve its ambitious housebuilding targets?

For the new government to achieve its ambitious housebuilding targets and deliver essential infrastructure, it’s not just skills and changes to planning that are required, contractors and housebuilders must earn back the trust of local communities.

Trust is not just a nice-to-have; it is a fundamental component for successful development. All too often, the promises made during initial consultations—about blending new communities into existing towns seamlessly and building new facilities —are watered down or conveniently forgotten, leading to frustration, disruption, and growing opposition.

Having been a passionate advocate of the construction sector for more than four decades, I’ve always believed in its potential as one of the few industries where entrepreneurs can build successful businesses from the ground up. The construction industry has been a pillar of economic growth, innovation, and job creation. However, my perspective has shifted, and I now see the stark realities that communities face when new developments are poorly planned and executed.

Kenilworth in Warwickshire is a prime example of the challenges that arise when construction disrupts daily life in the leafy lanes of rural England. This small town has been significantly affected by a series of ongoing projects, including HS2, which thunders past the edge of town, new housing estates with hundreds of homes under construction, and the development of Warwickshire’s largest school. These projects, while vital for the region’s growth, have brought with them a host of problems that were not adequately addressed during the planning stages.

The traffic chaos caused by nearly 2,000 students arriving and departing from the new school is just one glaring issue. It seems that the impact on local infrastructure was either underestimated or ignored, leading to gridlock and frustration for residents. Moreover, one housing scheme has developed a new neighbourhood without providing pavements linking it to the town centre.

This lack of basic infrastructure means that new residents must risk their safety if they wish to walk into town, a clear oversight that speaks to a broader problem in planning and execution. Building bridges with existing residents has not been helped by putting a locked gate between the new homes on one development for the sole use of new homes and excluding existing residents.

The construction of new road layouts has similarly ignored the potential disruption they would cause, particularly for the new housing where new spine roads are intended to take new traffic. The situation is further complicated by the Balfour Beatty Vinci team’s management of the HS2 programme, which has resulted in a growing schedule of road closures—some well-planned, others less so.

Then there is a key new junction on the A46, which is running two years late and clearly over budget, which only adds to the negative perception of the construction industry in the area. And next year the A46, a major trunk road, will be shut for two weeks. I hope it does not run over schedule.

These issues are not just minor inconveniences; they are serious failures that damage the reputation of the construction industry as a whole. When promises made during the planning process are not kept, or when projects are mismanaged, it erodes public trust. Without trust, communities become increasingly resistant to new developments, which can lead to costly delays, legal battles, and a loss of goodwill that is difficult to regain.

As someone who believes deeply in the value of the construction industry, I find it increasingly difficult to defend a sector that appears to be losing sight of the importance of community engagement. From what I’m seeing first-hand the industry needs to get its act together, rethink how it engages with local communities, and manage the process of change more professionally.

As the industry licks its lips at the prospect of a housing bonanza, it’s time to rethink its approach, rebuild its reputation with those who are affected, and ensure that future projects are something communities can embrace and welcome, rather than resist and campaign against.

Only by becoming a trusted partner that sticks to agreed plans and delivers on its promises can the construction industry contribute meaningfully to the government’s housebuilding and infrastructure goals.