Did you see us on TV?

We like to think we ‘punch above our weight’ at Larkfleet Homes. We are one of the top 50 builders in the UK in terms of the number of houses we produce – but, if we’re honest, we are only just in the top 50. And we are quite a way behind the really big builders.

So it was flattering that when the BBC wanted someone from the housebuilding industry to comment on the budget they didn’t go to one of the big builders. They came to us.

Our chief executive, Karl Hick, was interviewed live on BBC TV this afternoon, giving his views on the many things that Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond had said about housing and housebuilding in his speech in the House of Commons.

Of course, we have welcomed news that most first-time buyers will not now have to pay Stamp Duty. It will give a significant boost to the ability of young people to get onto the ‘housing ladder’, something that we’re really keen on at Larkfleet.

But in his TV interview Karl pointed out that one of the big challenges facing small and medium-sized housebuilders such as Larkfleet is the ability to get the cash we need to build more homes more quickly.

This was a topic that Philip Hammond specifically addressed during his budget speech, saying: “If we don’t do more to support the growth of the small and medium enterprise housebuilding sector we will remain dependent on the major national housebuilders that dominate the industry.”

He therefore announced measures such as new money for the Home Builders Fund “to get small and medium enterprise housebuilders building again” and a £630 million small sites fund to “unstick the delivery of 40,000 homes”.

He pledged that over the next five years the government would commit a total of at least £44 billion of capital funding, loans and guarantees to support the housing market.

He also announced new funding for construction industry training, new infrastructure investment and the creation of new ‘garden towns’.

This is all good news for the industry. And that should mean it is good news for house buyers. And it has given us our 'five minutes of fame'!

Our photo shows Karl Hick live on air on BBC TV.