From this came an opportunity to host a roundtable with SME developers and builders, alongside senior advisers, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) officials, and housing policy specialists.
Too often, the challenges facing SME developers are discussed in theory, but this was about bringing those who face them daily into the same room as the policymakers who can make change happen. The discussion was practical, covering planning delays, development barriers, and the financial hurdles SMEs encounter but it quickly moved towards solutions.
What stood out was the openness on both sides. Developers spoke honestly about their frustrations, while advisers listened carefully to how policies land in the real world. For Aldermore, it was a chance to highlight how access to finance can be both a barrier and an enabler, depending on how the system is designed.
There was clear agreement: SME developers have the skills and ambition to play a much bigger role in delivering the homes the UK needs but they can’t do it alone. Whether it’s embracing modern methods of construction (MMC), creating the right funding programmes, or giving SMEs a stronger voice in shaping policy, collaboration is essential. Just as importantly, the conversation extended to the families and individuals who need those homes. Helping people take their first step on the property ladder through solutions like concessionary purchase products or high loan to value (LTV) lending, must sit alongside efforts to boost supply.
As our MD of property, Ross Dalzell, summed up, the priorities are clear. Together, we must ensure that SME developers and builders are at the heart of solving the systemic challenges in housing and planning; we must provide targeted incentives like accelerator loans to give SMEs the confidence to build; and we must widen the use of MMC with a proper national strategy.
What we’ll take most from the roundtable is the sense that this wasn’t just another talking shop. It felt like the start of a more joined-up approach, where lenders, government, developers – and customers – pull in the same direction. Building on that momentum could be key to delivering the 1.5 million homes the country needs.
Shekina Tuahene, deputy editor of Mortgage Solutions: In September, newly appointed Housing Secretary Steve Reed reinforced the government’s commitment to and support of developers and housebuilders, encouraging them to “build, baby, build” ahead of measures to remove barriers to development. It is clear that the government is ready to help developers put spades in the ground and build more homes, signifying the important role of specialist lenders to deliver the finance essential to this ambition.
