LEP constructs strategy to support homebuilders

April 5, 2017

House builders in the Marches are being urged to have their say on the challenges facing their industry to help develop a new strategy that will drive forward the creation of more new homes.
The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership is appealing to small builders to reveal the support they need to grow their businesses and build more homes in a new survey.
The Government has set a target to build one million new homes by the end of this parliament and issued a Housing White Paper in which it sets out how it intends to help house builders increase the number of units they build.
The Marches LEP, which provides the business voice for Shropshire and Herefordshire to the Government, says the survey is an opportunity for local builders to help inform its priorities for support for the industry.
Peter Brown, Housing Lead for the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The LEP has been working with local authorities and the Homes & Communities Agency to look at the local evidence base on supply and demand and to discuss opportunities for supporting local house builders.
“We want our own strategy that reflects our regional needs and priorities and to do that we need to hear more from those people operating on the ground. What support do they need to build more homes? What are the challenges and how do they think the LEP can help them overcome them? Do they struggle to find the skilled workforce they need?
“We want to champion our local house builders and this is a chance to set the priorities of the Local Enterprise Partnership. We have a direct line of communication with Government to discuss what is needed by our construction community to help them to prosper, increase productivity, create jobs and build more homes so it’s important we get the feedback from the builders themselves.”
To complete the short survey, go to www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/house-builder-survey. It will close on April 13.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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