NFB and Equans urge the government to prioritise high-quality asset conversions

If action is taken, it would deliver high-quality housing quickly and cheaply, ensuring the Government makes best use of its £39bn funding to build 300,000 affordable homes, 60% at social rent levels

On 2 September 2025, representatives of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) met with Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

They discussed new ways the government could help achieve its ambitious housing targets and presented regeneration specialist Equans’ model for converting existing underutilised office spaces into affordable social housing. 

Those in attendance included Mark Wakeford, chairman of the NFB and Evo Energy; David Mellor, development director at Equans; Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight; and Will Dixon, executive of the NFB parliamentary affairs and communications. 

The conversation also touched on challenges with local authority capacity and planning processes, as well as the benefits of collaboration to address such concerns and ensure that constructed housing is of high quality. 

Mark Wakeford said: “It is always a privilege to represent our members when speaking to the Government. The opportunity to support their objectives, particularly achieving well-designed and built social housing, is one that NFB members are very well positioned to do. When we meet experienced, intelligent politicians keen to listen, learn and collaborate, we see a clear opportunity to make a difference.” 

David Mellor added: “The Government has been clear in its aim to significantly increase the UK’s affordable housing stock. We believe that working in partnership and thinking innovatively are key to achieving these ambitious targets, and we’re delighted to have had the opportunity to discuss our new social and affordable housing solutions with our partners today.” 

Those present urged the Government to consider providing grants for asset conversions in the same way they do for new affordable homes, proposed strategies to ensure the construction of social housing is viable and more attractive to institutional investors, and cited Design Guides as one mechanism to ensure high-quality conversions. 

Combined, this would deliver high-quality housing quickly and cheaply, ensuring the Government makes best use of its £39bn funding to build 300,000 affordable homes, 60% at social rent levels.