Call for new Construction Minister to take action on home standards and quality

The new Construction Minister Andrew Stephenson is being urged to raise quality and standards in the home building industry by introducing licensing. Stephenson, MP for Pendle in Lancashire, was given the job after the pervious Minister Richard Harrington resigned over Brexit. ‘I warmly welcome Andrew Stephenson into his new role and I look forward to working with him to raise standards, quality and professionalism in the construction industry,’ said Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders. But he urged the new Minister to take action sooner rather than later as the publication of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and the quality of some new build homes being called into question means that now is the time to improve standards and increase productivity.