James Butcher, new NFB deputy chief executive

James Butcher has been promoted to deputy chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB)

James has worked with the federation for nearly six years, and is now stepping into the role as new NFB deputy chief executive.

The board has announced their confidence in James for his accomplishments, initiatives, and delivery of lasting impact.

Ready to “lead the NFB into a new era”

James Butcher commented: “I’m delighted to have been appointed deputy chief executive and I am very much looking forward to working with Richard to lead the NFB into a new era. The historical concept of a traditional trade association is not fit for the future, and so together, our team will seek to trailblaze a new way of doing things.

“We have passionate and driven colleagues in our membership, on our Board and in our staff, so it is a real honour to be able to join the helm as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that changing technology, culture and the business environment bring”.

Richard Beresford, chief executive officer, added: “James has made an outstanding contribution to the NFB. His expertise in policy and strategic insight have been invaluable, and his passion and vision will be central as we continue to grow and deliver even greater value to our members.”

Working for the built environment

The NFB have been outspoken about standards and regulations in the built environment recently, aiming to improve conditions for all involved.

In July, they released a report that concluded removing area-based thresholds for medium-sized construction sites would benefit Small- and Medium-Enterprise builders (SMEs).

New proposals meant that a medium-sized construction site could be anything up to a hectare, but the NFB argued that many housing development sites, while still being 10-49 homes, are forced to expand further than a hectare due to drainage, BNG, grid, sewerage, and active travel policies. Furthermore, the hectare limit is largely made redundant due to the existence of LPA acceptable density policies.

Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight for the NFB and House Builders Association (HBA), said: “We are incredibly grateful that the Government has listened to industry by recognising the dwelling numbers that SMEs typically deliver on single sites. However, the inclusion of a measured area threshold risks excluding most SMEs from the proportionate planning reforms associated with a medium-sized site, and so our report ‘Size Still Matters’ illustrates why that is and why it is not needed.”

If this is not changed, SMEs could lose out on other benefits that medium-sized developments could bring, including easier navigation of BNG requirements, potential exclusion from the Building Safety Levy, and more navigable transparency goals for speedier planning approval or appeals.

The post New NFB deputy chief executive appointed appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New NFB deputy chief executive appointed
Close Search Window