The appointment of a new prime minister inevitably brings renewed discussion around how the UK tackles its housing shortage.

Increasing the supply of new homes is rightly a national priority, but if we are serious about accelerating delivery, we need to recognise a simple truth: planning permissions alone do not build homes.

Over recent years, considerable attention has been given to planning reform and the need to bring forward more development land. That is important. Developers need a planning system that is efficient, predictable and capable of supporting growth. However, from our experience working with SME developers across the UK, planning is only one part of the equation.

Many developers today either have, or have access to, implementable planning permissions. The challenge is that bringing homes to market requires confidence that they will sell at values that justify the investment.

Developers commit significant amounts of capital long before a scheme is completed. If buyer demand is uncertain or affordability becomes stretched, it is only natural that delivery rates slow and schemes are phased more cautiously.

The housing market works best when supply and demand are considered together. Whilst planning reform can help increase the availability of sites, demand side measures are equally important. Improving mortgage accessibility, particularly for first time buyers, and supporting affordable housing provision can have a direct impact on confidence across the market.

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This is particularly important for SME housebuilders. They play a critical role in housing delivery but have faced a challenging operating environment in recent years.

Rising build costs, higher funding costs, significant additional regulatory requirements and slower sales rates have all impacted viability and decision making. Many firms remain ambitious and well capitalised, but they need confidence that new developments can be delivered profitably before committing to the next scheme.

There is also an important role for government and local authorities in supporting the delivery of affordable and social housing. The housing crisis will not be solved by private sector development alone.

A balanced approach that combines private investment with targeted public sector support is far more likely to create sustainable long-term supply which can be achieved through greater certainty on the Section 106 obligations.

Perhaps the most important requirement is consistency. Housing development is a long-term business. Decisions taken today often take years to translate into completed homes. Developers, lenders and investors all benefit from stable policy, predictable planning outcomes and a clear long-term vision for the sector.

The ambition to build more homes is welcome. The challenge now is turning that ambition into delivery. That means creating the conditions in which buyers are willing to buy and developers are willing to build, because as a lender, UTB is willing and able to support both. When all three are aligned, housing delivery flows.