UK housebuilder plunges into administration after 7 years – ‘sector struggling’

A UK housebuilder has plunged into administration following seven years of business. The company has been hit by a number of industry financial pressures, including soaring building, energy, and labour costs.

Agile Property and Homes, known as Agile, is a low-carbon modular housebuilder and developer based across Bristol and Oxfordshire. It specialises in sustainable, flat-pack fabricated homes using natural and renewable materials. It was founded on March 20, 2019, but appointed Andrew Pear and Richard Keley, of Moorfields Advisory, as administrators on July 6. The news comes a year after the company’s chief executive, Craig White, told industry publication Inside Housing that it had “the proven model to tackle the UK’s housing crisis at low cost and speed”.

As reported by The Telegraph, Mr Pear noted the rising cost of energy, labour and raw materials as one of the reasons for its collapse. The building industry has also faced years of pressure due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Mr Pear said: “The sector is struggling due to cost inflation. Inputs into the business have gone up in price substantially. That’s also created affordability issues for the whole property market.”

The Labour Government aims to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, but is currently falling short of its target. Despite the need to build 300,000 homes per year, it is estimated that only 150,000 will be built between now and March 2028.

Mr Pear described the system as “broken” and said delays in planning permission are holding back the plans. He also said there is a “massive skills shortage” in the UK and has called for the next Prime Minister to get a grip of the situation.

Agile constructs flat-pack panels before delivering them to sites, where they are built in around 12 to 14 weeks. The company also partners with community land trusts, charities and housing associations to build affordable homes.