Mark White, Managing Director of Hampshire-based housebuilder Bargate, has been appointed to the Future Homes Hub’s board of directors. He will become the SME representative, responsible for articulating the net zero challenges faced by homebuilders delivering under 300 homes a year.
The Future Homes Hub was established in October 2021 to facilitate the collaboration needed within the new homes sector to help meet the Government’s legally binding net zero and wider environmental targets. For the past 12 months, Mark White has chaired the Hub’s SME Liaison Group, which reviews specific challenges, identifies solutions, supports the Government in understanding SME circumstances, and helps to communicate out to the SME sector.
The Future Homes Hub Board provides strategic oversight and guidance to ensure the UK’s new homes sector delivers high-quality, low-carbon, climate-resilient homes. Bringing together senior leaders from government, industry, housing, finance, sustainability and innovation, the Board represents a broad cross-section of the sector. The Board plays a critical role in aligning the Hub’s work with government ambition, industry capability and the urgent need to tackle climate change. Members include:
Board members include:
• David Thomas, Chair. Barratt Developments.
• Sue Riddlestone. Bioregional
• Peter Caplehorn. Construction Products Association
• Steve Midgley. Fairgrove Homes
• Lynne Sullivan. Good Homes Alliance.
• Emma Harvey-Smith. Green Finance Institute
• Neil Jefferson. Home Builders Federation
• Steve Wood. NHBC
• Elizabeth Froude. Platform Housing Group
• Rob Boughton. Thakeham
• Ed Lockhart. Future Homes Hub
• Richard Lankshear. Future Homes Hub
Board observers from the following government bodies also join the board:
• John Palmer. MHCLG
• Tara Deshpande. DESNZ
• Nick Barter. Defra
• Alison Crofton. Homes England
Established in 2006, Bargate delivers 300 high EPC-rated homes per year and is a wholly owned subsidiary of VIVID – one of the south east’s largest providers of affordable homes. Mark White was a founding member of the Bargate team and became managing director four years ago.
Ed Lockhart, CEO of the Future Homes Hub, said: “Mark has made a considerable impact to our work and the influence of the Future Homes Hub over the past year, in his role as chair of the SME Liaison Group. This appointment will enable regular discussion to take place with fellow directors – in and outside of the board room – about the unique circumstances facing SME housebuilders.
“SMEs are vital to housing delivery and innovation in homebuilding, but they often have less capacity and can face unique circumstances in complying with new regulations. While the SME Liaison Group will continue to be a distinct mechanism to support SME homebuilders on the latest set of challenges around net zero and sustainability, Mark’s appointment to the board will help to amplify pressing issues.”
The Future Homes Hub is an independent organisation bringing together the homebuilding sector with the wider circle of supply chain, infrastructure, finance and government organisations that need to collaborate. Over 50 of the largest homebuilders are active members, with many other related organisations committed to working together through the Hub to achieve environmental and sustainability goals.
The work of the Future Homes Hub includes developing technical solutions for regulatory changes, and collaborating sector-wide to overcome barriers to successful implementation, for example on skills and supply chain. The Hub also develops industry led proposals for current and future policy challenges. It has created the basis for measuring sustainability performance, capturing the value of improving performance. The team is in constant communication with all parts of the homebuilding sector and facilitates sharing and learning.
Mark White, managing director of Bargate and FHH board member, said: “Now that we have a road map to the Future Homes Standard and the industry is transitioning to net zero, I’m very proud to be joining this influential board to add the voice of the SME sector. By continuing to debate the key issues within the SME Liaison Group, we can knowledge share and provide solutions that not only benefit the environment and the government agenda, but are achievable for smaller and regional homebuilders.”
The Hub has a published delivery plan, which is divided into four areas with a goal and roadmap for each area. It also sets out the specification for the non-profit organisation. The four goals are; high-quality homes that are zero carbon ready and sustainable. Places and developments that are consistently low carbon, nature-rich, resilient, healthy, well designed and beautiful. Production and construction methods that are net zero and sustainable by 2050 with substantial progress by 2030. And lastly, recognising and rewarding businesses for net zero and sustainability performance.