Build Europe pushes post-coronavirus action plan

As the organisation points out: “The demand for new housing stock remains at historic highs. But right across Europe, construction has slowed, or stalled, and the delivery of new housing stock has been hampered. Furthermore, the pressure which national and regional administrations are experiencing is threatening to create serious delays in the granting of building permits and exacerbates the problems faced by prospective home buyers. Construction companies and developers will see their pipeline of work reducing, which will impact negatively on medium-term real estate supply and threaten employment levels in the construction sector.”

Its proposals include both temporary solutions to address the short-term issues related to the EU-wide lockdown, as well as longer-term solutions to restore equilibrium to the market and provide foundations for strong and sustainable growth. These involve: re-establishing the freedom of movement for workers and cross-border commuters, introducing a moratorium on new regulations, and speeding up the digitalisation process at all stages – from the acquisition of development rights to the commercialisation.

The president of Build Europe has commented: “Build Europe is pleased that the European institutions have taken initial steps to deal with the current crisis. However, we believe that the worst is yet to come. In order to avert the risk of a prolonged and deeply damaging economic recession and a threat to EU social cohesion, national governments and the EU institutions need to work together with enhanced vigour and commitment to support the construction of new housing stock at affordable prices, through a policy of developing supply and, for a limited period, actively supporting demand.”

Build Europe is made up of national federations in the EU representing more than 30,000 developers and residential builders.