MPs explore: could skills shortages hold back the Government’s housebuilding agenda?
MPs will consider whether skills shortages in the UK could hinder the Government’s ambitious housebuilding and nature agendas, in an evidence session on Wednesday 4 June.
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee are currently holding an inquiry into how the Government can grow the UK’s housing stock while meeting environmental goals.
Sectors facing significant skills gaps include ecology, and low carbon construction and retrofit. Academics from the University of Wolverhampton say the construction industry needs an extra 251,000 people to join the sector by 2028, while a quarter of local planning authorities lack access to ecological expertise, the Association of Local Government Ecologists found in 2022.
Meeting details
Amid reports that Natural England is due to cut around 200 jobs, MPs are likely to ask whether the UK has enough skilled professionals to deliver the high level of both new housing and nature restoration the Government has pledged.
They are also likely to ask what unique challenges are presented by the need to construct net zero homes, and whether a lack of digital skills across construction is impeding innovation and sustainability.
Separately, MPs will ask another panel of witnesses about their experiences of implementing biodiversity net gain – a theme across the inquiry – and how the policy can better support small sites.