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.

A construction firm run by two bosses who have previously carried out work for Wetherspoon and JD Sports has been wound up. Juma Construction Group’s Matthew Hoyes and Julian Kirkpatrick have a combined 40 years worth of experience in the industry, according to the company’s website.

But the business based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, has been voluntarily ended after a special resolution was passed and joint liquidators appointed. Craig Johns and Jason Elliott from business advisory, Cowgills, are overseeing the process, which involves selling off assets, paying off any creditors and dishing out any funds to those who have a share in the firm.

Other firms Juma Construction Group’s directors have worked for under previous employers include BT, Sports Direct and Revolution Bars, the company website states.

The company offered office fit outs, renovations, refurbishments, gas and civil engineering.

According to the business, this included the design and build of a training facility at John Leggott College in Scunthorpe and a four month long fit out of The Bridge Hotel for Ask Drinks Ltd.

Juma Construction Group and Cowgills have been approached for comment.

News about the company, published by The Gazette on Monday (June 8), comes after the latest figures showed output in Britain’s construction industry declined at its fastest rate since Covid last month.

Worries about the Iran war as well as political uncertainty weighed on demand for building work in May, with the S&P Global UK construction PMI showing a reading of 38.2 – a steep decline from 39.7 in April.

A reading above 50.0 indicates activity in the industry is increasing while anything below means it is contracting.

The latest score was the lowest since May 2020, while construction output has been in decline for about a year-and-a-half despite the Labour Government’s manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.

S&P Global’s survey found elevated uncertainty about the economic and political climate was dampening demand, while firms were grappling with rising energy, fuel and transportation costs.

Builders surveyed suggested project delays and pushing back big investment decisions, as well as general cutbacks to their customers’ budgets, had resulted in fewer opportunities for work in May.

Some also pointed to political uncertainty having an impact on demand conditions, after Sir Keir Starmer fought to stay on as Prime Minister amid calls from Labour MPs for his resignation.

Max Jones, Head of Construction at Lloyds, said earlier this month: “While ongoing uncertainty weighs on output, many firms are staying focused on current work and planning for future growth.”

He said companies were continuing to invest in skills to be ready for new opportunities linked to cleaner energy and growing areas of importance, such as defence.