Gavin White, product manager at Marley, has issued a statement in response to the Government's housing white paper. “The proposals outlined in the Government’s White Paper are to be welcomed, as we all understand the significant demand for more housing. However, as always, the devil is in the detail and there are a number of areas raised in the proposals, which need greater clarity.

“While it’s clear there is a need for initiatives to speed-up construction timescales, what does this mean for sustainability? Little mention is given of this important topic and too much focus on build speed could be to the detriment of the environmental impact of the homes being built.

"Although there is mention of the need to address the skills shortage in construction, what does this mean in reality? As a manufacturer, we’re playing our part by offering training for roofers and development of easy-to-fit products, which not only help better use limited labour on site, but also play their part in speeding up construction. But, what’s needed to truly address this issue is industry-wide collaboration to encourage more apprentices into the construction sector.

“Finally, with the shortage of skills we’re facing and the increased focus on addressing the lack of affordable housing, the construction industry should be cautious this does not drive a trend towards a more basic vernacular when it comes to roofing. As a manufacturer, we’re trying to play our part in helping prevent this by offering products which are easy-to-install and affordable but, achieve a premium aesthetic. We’ve seen products with these benefits prove to be particularly popular including our fibre cement slates and concrete interlocking tiles, Edgemere and Ashmore.”