Government must not sacrifice quality in drive to build 1.5 million homes, say MPs.
A cross‑party group of MPs has warned that the Government risks repeating the mistakes of past housebuilding booms unless quality is placed on equal footing with quantity in its drive to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament.
In its new report, Proud to call home, the All‑Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment (APPGEBE) sets out a series of practical measures to raise standards in design, construction and the lived experience of new homes. The parliamentary group, chaired by Mike Reader MP, argues that the Government’s ambition represents a “once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity” to reshape not just how many homes are built, but how well they are built.
Throughout the Inquiry, BUILDOFFSITE and its members — including Apply Structure, Hadley Group, Hemspan, MMC Homebuilding, Modular Express, Dataform Lab, Vista Insurance — provided evidence on how proven modern methods of construction (MMC) could support both scale and quality. The inquiry supports their calls for an MMC planning passport, national design standards for systemised construction, and financial support to unlock the MMC pipeline. The report’s recommendations reinforced our call to action in the BUILDOFFSITE Manifesto.
While Government planning guidance emphasises wellbeing, sustainability and placemaking, the report finds that these aspirations are not consistently reflected in practice. Too many new developments still lack the infrastructure, design quality and long‑term performance that communities expect.
To address this, the MPs call for mandatory design reviews for developments over 250 homes, stronger professional leadership through chief planning officers in every local authority, and a ‘use it or lose it’ approach to Section 106 contributions to ensure funding for green spaces and community infrastructure is delivered on time.
On build quality, the report highlights the need for minimum inspection requirements for building control and warranty providers, alongside stronger consumer protections. It urges Government to mandate participation in a single consumer code and require all developers to register with the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) and New Homes Ombudsman — coverage that currently extends to only half of new homes.
The Commission also champions a “soft landings” approach, with developers staying engaged after completion to support residents and learn from real‑world performance. Post‑occupancy evaluation of energy performance is highlighted as essential to closing the performance gap.
Mike Reader MP said:
“The 1.5 million homes this Government has pledged can be a legacy of which future generations are proud. That will only happen if quality is woven through every decision, in policy, planning, design and delivery.”
Graham Watts OBE, Chief Executive of the Construction Industry Council, added:
“This report aims to advance all aspects of housebuilding quality — and to set out practical solutions that will help deliver the homes we need, at the standard the public deserves.”
Dirk Vennix CIRIA CEO and BUILDOFFSITE Executive Director. “I was delighted to give written and oral evidence to the Inquiry. It is welcomed that BUILDOFFSITE members were able to provide market insights on approaches and incentives which are reflected in the report. If Government seriously wants to remove barriers to growth, the housing sector should be treated like national infrastructure and built with the same planning, investment and discipline as roads or rail projects. To achieve that, the sector needs a standardised, industrialised approach to housebuilding, more like manufacturing than bespoke construction. Housing procurement should also be based on performance standards rather than simply lowest capital cost. I know offsite homes have historically faced mortgage and insurance barriers because lenders worried about durability, quality control and resale value. Our Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme (BOPAS) helps overcome concerns by independently verifying the design, manufacturing, and construction process and providing a 60-year durability guarantee. But above all, the Government needs to back offsite site with direct capital grants or other financial incentives for MMC-built homes that can prove strong performance.”
A copy of the report can be downloaded here.