Housing Minister Mark Prisk has called for an increased contribution from SMEs to the housing market.

The Minister made the announcement at an event hosted by the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

He also pressed the need to make markets more dynamic in order to involve a wider range of partners.

Julia Evans, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders, said: "The current government has actually done a lot to promote housebuilding but more has to be done to encourage partnerships in the industry."

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But Minister Prisk said: "We must make better use of what we have developed and built."

He added that while 'Help to Buy' is contributing to supply, many young people are still struggling to get onto the housing ladder.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, emphasised a greater need for housing supply, suggesting that better incentives need to be put into place to encourage wider SME involvement in housebuilding.

He said: "The government has got it right on the demand side, but we now need to look at the supply."

Julia Evans added that emphasis must be placed on housebuilding, before highlighting work being done between the industry and government, referring to the NFB and FMB's involvement in the industrial strategy for construction and meetings between NFB members and the government's chief construction adviser.

She said a "strong partnership between government and the industry is also essential," should the housing market be ignited to meet with growing demand.

(IT/JP)