Mark White, managing director of Hampshire-based housebuilder Bargate, has been appointed to the board of directors at the Future Homes Hub.

He will serve as the representative for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the net zero challenges faced by homebuilders delivering fewer than 300 homes annually.

The Future Homes Hub, established in October 2021, aims to foster collaboration across the new homes sector to support the UK Government’s legally binding net zero and environmental targets.

Over the past year, White has chaired the Hub’s SME Liaison Group, which works to identify sector-specific challenges, propose solutions, and assist government understanding of SME circumstances.

The Hub’s board provides strategic oversight to ensure the new homes sector delivers high-quality, low-carbon, climate-resilient housing.

Its membership includes senior leaders from government, industry, housing, finance, sustainability, and innovation, representing a broad cross-section of the sector.

Board members include:

  • David Thomas (Chair), Barratt Developments

  • Sue Riddlestone, Bioregional

  • Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association

  • Steve Midgley, Fairgrove Homes

  • Lynne Sullivan, Good Homes Alliance

  • Emma Harvey-Smith, Green Finance Institute

  • Neil Jefferson, Home Builders Federation

  • Steve Wood, NHBC

  • Elizabeth Froude, Platform Housing Group

  • Rob Boughton, Thakeham

  • Ed Lockhart, Future Homes Hub

  • Richard Lankshear, Future Homes Hub

Government observers also attend board meetings from MHCLG, DESNZ, Defra, and Homes England.

Bargate, established in 2006, builds approximately 300 high EPC-rated homes per year and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of VIVID, a major affordable housing provider in the South East. Mark White, a founding member of Bargate, became managing director four years ago.

Ed Lockhart, CEO of the Future Homes Hub, commented on the appointment:
“Mark has made a considerable impact to our work and the influence of the Future Homes Hub over the past year, in his role as chair of the SME Liaison Group. This appointment will enable regular discussion to take place with fellow directors – in and outside of the board room – about the unique circumstances facing SME housebuilders.

“SMEs are vital to housing delivery and innovation in homebuilding, but they often have less capacity and can face unique circumstances in complying with new regulations.

While the SME Liaison Group will continue to be a distinct mechanism to support SME homebuilders on the latest set of challenges around net zero and sustainability, Mark’s appointment to the board will help to amplify pressing issues.”

The Future Homes Hub is an independent organisation that brings together homebuilders with the supply chain, infrastructure, finance, and government organisations required for sector-wide collaboration.

Over 50 large homebuilders are active members, along with many other organisations committed to achieving environmental and sustainability goals.

The Hub’s work includes developing technical solutions for regulatory changes and overcoming barriers such as skills shortages and supply chain constraints.

It also leads on industry proposals for current and future policy challenges and establishes frameworks for measuring sustainability performance.

Mark White said:
“Now that we have a road map to the Future Homes Standard and the industry is transitioning to net zero, I’m very proud to be joining this influential board to add the voice of the SME sector.

By continuing to debate the key issues within the SME Liaison Group, we can knowledge share and provide solutions that not only benefit the environment and the government agenda, but are achievable for smaller and regional homebuilders.”

The Hub’s published delivery plan is structured around four core goals:

  • Delivering high-quality homes that are zero carbon ready and sustainable

  • Creating places and developments that are low carbon, nature-rich, resilient, healthy, well-designed, and attractive

  • Adopting production and construction methods that are net zero and sustainable by 2050, with significant progress by 2030

  • Recognising and rewarding businesses for net zero and sustainability performance