Propertymark head of policy and campaigns Timothy Douglas has backed Katie Lam’s housing calls at today’s Conservative Conference in Birmingham.

Lam, the shadow secretary of state for housing, communities and local government housing, has called on cutting the cost of new-build homes by up to £50,000 and scrapping the Future Homes Standard.

She also spoke on replacing Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a single levy, scrapping Stamp Duty and the reduction of other housebuilding regulations and barriers to development and infrastructure.

Commenting on Lam’s speech, Douglas says Propertymark “welcomes the focus on increasing housing supply, simplifying planning and making it easier for people to move home”.

Douglas states: “Our members see first-hand how delays, complexity and uncertainty in the planning system can add costs and hold back development, so measures to make planning faster and more proportionate, particularly for smaller housebuilders, are welcome.”

“Scrapping Stamp Duty would also remove a significant barrier to moving home and could help improve mobility across the housing market.”

He adds: “We also welcome efforts to reduce unnecessary costs and complexity for housebuilders, but scrapping the Future Homes Standard altogether needs careful consideration.”

“The priority should be proportionate regulation that supports new housing without adding avoidable costs or delays, while ensuring homes remain fit for the future.”

“Ultimately, planning reform alone will not solve the housing crisis. The test of these proposals will be whether they actually deliver more homes and improve affordability, particularly for first-time buyers and renters.”

“The £50,000 saving claim will also need to be tested against whether those savings reach consumers. Furthermore, policy makers must not make cost saving at the expense of quality and standards, a balance will need to be struck.”